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Lifesaving dispatchers receive awards (TX)
Gainesville dispatcher Laura Polmateer’s lifesaving actions for an old friend made her a recent award recipient during the annual Texoma Regional 911 Telecommunicators Banquet in Sherman. Polmateer underwent surgery in December 2019 to donate her kidney to someone she...
Randolph 911 telecommunicators honored (WV)
ELKINS–The Randolph County Commission has agreed to recognize 911 public safety telecommunicators as “true first responders.” “The difference between a dispatcher and a telecommunicator is when they are trained,” said Cindy Hart, executive director of the Randolph...
Walla Walla County gets RapidSOS for better location data on 911 cellphone calls (WA)
Walla Walla Emergency Services Communications, the county’s 911 dispatch call center, announced today it has updated its device location data for 911 calls from callers with Apple and Android phones, and more. Until now, WESCOM has had “fairly accurate” location...
Commissioners again delay dispatcher salary increases (WY)
The Teton County sheriff will have to wait a little longer for the intervention he’s been seeking to save the county’s 911 dispatch center from a crisis. County commissioners broached the topic again Monday, only to say they want to wait until the regular budget...
Bastrop County 911 call volume increased by 8% in 2019 (TX)
The growth that Bastrop County has been experiencing over the past several years is acutely felt in the county’s 911 center. A report presented to the Bastrop County Commissioners Court on Monday shows that the 911 communications center fielded 135,954 calls last...
Holbrook Regional Emergency dispatchers screen all calls for coronavirus (MA)
Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center dispatchers are asking potential patients several questions to determine if they could be suffering from the novel coronavirus, according to Director Steve Hooke. They are asking all callers who report a medical...
Demystifying the Cloud for Public Safety (DC)
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, March 11, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT), the leading trade association for providers of emergency communications, software, and emergency response technologies, announced the second in...
Coronavirus and emergencies: Volusia Sheriff’s Office to take precautions (FL)
To limit potential exposure and transmission of the coronavirus, deputies and detectives may ask residents to step outside of their homes if possible. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office will modify the way it responds to calls for service as a precaution to limit the...
Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron fires public safety director (TN)
Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron fired Public Safety Director Kevin Lauer on Monday for philosophical differences, records suggest. A human resource document said Lauer lost his job as Rutherford's first public safety director because of a...
Johnson County dispatchers ask more questions to keep first responders healthy after coronavirus outbreak (KS)
JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) - Inside the Johnson County Emergency Communications Center, some dispatchers are handling calls for law enforcement which would include calls like a robbery or a shooting. Others are answering calls for fire and medical needs. The...
Uber launches new emergency feature in Utah (UT)
SALT LAKE CITY – (ABC4 News) One of the most convenient ways to get to and from home, work, school or even a night out is a rideshare. While the convenience is nice, there’s also a slight chance you could run into a scary situation. To enhance the safety for both...
Elkhart will not use former Bayer site for public safety facility (IN)
New information has been released on plans to build a Public Safety Complex in Elkhart. The city has rejected the former Bayer plant as the place to build its new public safety complex, which will house four different public safety departments. It will combine...
Here’s how coronavirus will change what a 9-1-1 dispatcher will ask you (CA)
The virus has changed even the questions that a dispatcher asks, with the goal of giving a heads up to first-responders. With the coronavirus spreading, along with the commensurate fear, you can expect subtle but key changes in the questions you get asked when you...
911 Dispatchers Hear the Worst Moments of Our Lives. Who Listens To Them?
Jamie Acosta still remembers the first call in which someone died. Over the phone, she learned that a 16-year-old had wrapped his car around a telephone pole. Afterward, she replayed it in her head, trying to figure out if she somehow could have gotten the ambulance...
DDoS attacks could affect next generation 911 call systems
Despite a previous warning by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers, who exposed vulnerabilities in 911 systems due to DDoS attacks, the next generation of 911 systems that now accommodate text, images and video still have the same or more severe...
Coronavirus Information | Emergency Communications Center (TX)
As we continue to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation both globally and here at home, we have prepared a web-based resource with answers to frequently asked questions. We will continue to update this resource with additional information as it becomes...
Sheriff’s Office To Host Women In Public Safety Symposium Saturday, March 14 At The Broward College Institute Of Public Safety (FL)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The women of the Broward Sheriff’s Office will educate women of all ages about the advantages of a career in public safety during the Women in Public Safety Symposium. The event will take place from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on March 14 at the Broward...
SCV law enforcement, first responders deal with coronavirus threat (CA)
While no confirmed cases of COVID-19 have yet been reported in Santa Clarita, local law enforcement officials and first responders are taking steps to mitigate potential exposure. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Following a press conference held by Los Angeles...
Joint Communication Center beginning to master balancing act (NE)
lace like the new Joint Communications Center at the Columbus Airport isn't something built overnight. It takes people working together to make a common cause a reality. In this instance, it took a massive undertaking from both the City of Columbus and Platte County....
Commissioners save $800K on emergency communications contracts (OH)
MANSFIELD - The Richland County Commissioners took major steps Tuesday to upgrade the county’s 30-year-old emergency communications system and remodel the 911 communications center. They also saved $800,000 in estimated costs as part of the process. Commissioners...
UPCOMING EVENTREGISTER>
The Inaugural Howard C. Liebengood Foundation Symposium: The Evolving Law Enforcement Landscape & the First Responder Mental Health Crisis
Wednesday, September 30 to Thursday, October 1, 2026
Law enforcement is operating in one of the most demanding environments in modern history. Shifting public expectations, critical incidents, and ongoing organizational pressures have reshaped the profession, and the impact on officer health and agency stability has never been greater. This inaugural symposium convenes law enforcement leaders, mental health and health care experts, researchers, and bipartisan policymakers to explore practical, evidence-informed solutions. Grounded in research and lived experience, this symposium focuses on translating knowledge into action.
Over two days, participants will examine the evolving policing landscape, confront the profession’s mental health crisis—including elevated rates of suicide, PTSD, depression, and anxiety—and identify strategies to strengthen resilience, crisis response, and organizational leadership.
SURVEY
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.
PETITIONS
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UPDATES
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.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
GRANTS
Webinar
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.
REGISTER
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