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Prince George sees another record month of 9-1-1 overdose calls (British Columbia)
Prince George has seen another month with well over 100 overdose calls – a city that normally averages 52 calls per month. In August, paramedics responded to 129 overdose calls in the northern capital, which is one more than July’s 128 calls to BC Emergency Health...
State trooper, dispatcher honored for heroism in saving 17-year-old girl (IN)
RIPLEY COUNTY, In. (FOX19) - An Indiana state trooper and a dispatcher are being hailed as heroes after helping save a woman from a burning car. Sgt. Jared Black works out of the ISP post in Versailles, In. According to Black, a 17-year-old girl called 911 in late...
PSHSB Seeks Comment on Emergency Access to Wi-Fi Access Points
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) seeks comment on the feasibility of allowing emergency access to providers’ Wi-Fi access points, as directed by the RAY BAUM’s Act of 2018. The RAY...
DC 911 head responds to claim of spike in dispatches to wrong, nonexistent addresses (DC)
The head of the District of Columbia’s emergency call center tells WTOP “there is not a systematic problem with DC 911,” in response to allegations that fire and EMS crews have been sent to wrong addresses more times this year than the last five years combined. Safety...
Funding Approved for Scotts Bluff Co. to Add VIPER 9-1-1 Backup System (NE)
The Nebraska Public Service Commission has approved funding that will pay for equipment and the first year of service and maintenance for a 9-1-1 backup system for Scotts Bluff County. The PSC on Tuesday approved the county’s request to use approximately $112,500 in...
Six emerging and future public safety technologies
The landscape for public safety technology is changing almost every day, both in terms of major regulatory changes and technology advances that impact public safety, and in new product announcements. So where is it all headed? Here are three new and three emerging...
County Has Locations For Communication Towers (IN)
The county is taking big steps toward having more public safety communication and broadband internet towers in Kosciusko, including having the three locations for them. At the county commissioners meeting Tuesday, Terry Burnworth, of Pyramid Consulting, asked for...
Officer bodycam and 911 call detail Clovis officer-involved shooting (CA)
CLOVIS, California (KGPE) —Clovis Police said 26-year-old Nikolas Frazier made the initial 911 call on Sunday before he was shot and killed by police. Police Chief Curt Fleming said Frazier called police telling them a man was in the Walmart parking lot with a rifle....
Habitat for Humanity honors Siloam Springs dispatchers (AR)
Habitat for Humanity recognizes the Siloam Springs Emergency dispatch as "Habitat Heroes" on Aug. 26. The organization brought gift bags for the dispatchers along with home-baked cookies...
County dispatch seeing more 911 hangups (UT)
Hang-up calls to 911 have been on the rise for our dispatch center, as well as every other center. We’re looking for your help, so that we can continue to provide the best service to the community. Handling 911 hang-ups can sometimes be a relatively long, drawn-out...
911 dispatcher looks back at 21 years with the London Fire Department (UK)
Stay calm, no matter what. After more than two decades as a communications operator for the London Fire Department, Ida Piroli has learned that keeping her cool is the most critical part of the job. “You need to help these people in their most difficult...
Investigation Finds Confusion, Delay in June 4 Drowning Response (MD)
Call transfers, confusion, miscommunication and even boat motor problems characterized the response to 911 calls for help the afternoon that 16-year-old Fitz Thomas drowned near Confluence Park—all described in a 77-page report released Monday. The name of the report,...
Baltimore Police moving to encrypt scanner transmissions, keeping public from hearing calls (MD)
As part of a planned upgrade of its radio systems, the Baltimore Police Department is switching to encrypted transmissions, eliminating the ability for most of the public to listen in. The preparations were confirmed by City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, head of the...
Uptick in 9-1-1 Calls About Mental Health Since COVID Outbreak (OR)
BEND, OR -- Many people are having a difficult time dealing with the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic…it’s happening not just here, but across the state and nation. The Head of Deschutes County Behavioral health Janice Garceau (gar-so) tells KBND there’s...
With limited mental health staff, Waterbury calls the police on school children under 12 (CT)
Maria was having a hard time calming down at her elementary school in Waterbury. On a December day just before holiday break in 2018, she was hitting and kicking staff and knocking books off the bookcase. She had recently entered foster care, and this was her third...
Watchdog says DC agency needs to be investigated after Fire & EMS sent to wrong address 30+ times (DC)
DC’s Office of Unified Communications (OUC) handles the 311 and 911 calls in the District. Are those calls being mishandled? Our #TheQandA is here with that answer. WASHINGTON — The mission of the DC Office of Unified Communications is to provide a fast, professional...
Residents speak up on behalf of local dispatch as county proposes moving services (CO)
Rio Blanco County residents concerned about keeping dispatch services local filled the commissioners’ meeting room to overflowing Monday. Sheriff Anthony Mazzola put out a statement on social media this weekend stating he was told late Friday by Commissioner Gary...
OPD Dispatch Honored for August 31, 2019 Efforts (TX)
On August 31, 2019 the unthinkable happened, and for many Odessans their first instinct was to call 911 to report the incident they saw. “And as soon as I walked in I heard the phones just ringing and ringing and ringing. I just jumped on the phone and I started...
Buncombe County upgrades 911 system, improves location accuracy (NC)
Does 911 really know where you are? Thanks to the work of multiple Buncombe County departments, the location information emergency responders depend on is more accurate than ever before. While Emergency Services has always had reliable data, the County’s work on the...
Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Criminalizing a False 9-1-1 Call Based on Race or Protected Class (NJ)
Governor Phil Murphy today signed legislation (A1906), which would amend current law to include false incrimination and filing a false police report as a form of bias intimidation. The bill also establishes crime of false 9-1-1 call with purpose to intimidate or...
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We welcome your insights on the experiences and operational challenges you encounter as a public safety professional. By participating in this FirstNet Authority survey, you’ll help shape future enhancements to ensure they meet the mission‑critical, real‑world needs of the public safety community. The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
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PSBTA Releases Survey on First Responder Support for FirstNet Reauthorization
New Survey: First Responders Overwhelmingly Support Reauthorization of FirstNet
A new bipartisan national survey commissioned by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association finds near- unanimous support among first responders for reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)– the agency overseeing America’s dedicated public safety broadband network.
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Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
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Podcast
FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz Spectrum
This episode dives into the critical evolution of public safety communications, focusing on the recent FCC decision to establish a nationwide Band Manager framework for the 4.9 GHz spectrum, and discuss the evolution and deployment of the FirstNet System. Host Chris Tubbs interviews Chief Jeff Johnson, a leader in public safety technology and the development of FirstNet. Together, they explore the history, governance, and transformative potential of FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz spectrum in enhancing public safety operations with emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and augmented reality. The discussion emphasizes the importance of protecting and optimizing public safety spectrum, the lessons learned from past advocacy efforts, and a call to action for public safety leaders to remain engaged in ensuring the spectrum’s effective use and governance.
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Accessing Federal Resources When an Emergency or Major Disaster Strikes
In light of the major disasters that our nation has recently experienced, PS Grants is offering this FREE webinar to review Disaster Assistance Programs and how to access them. Learn what federal funds and resources are available through Disaster Assistance, understand the process of requesting assistance, know what to expect before, during, and after, and find out who to contact for help.
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