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Reducing 911 Dispatcher Burnout & Turnover Through Behavioral Insights
A new report from the Behavioral Insights Team & the University of California at Berkeley connects a sense of belonging to employee retention Over the course of a year, the average 911 emergency service dispatcher will take over 2,400 phone calls. These calls can...
Penobscot Regional Communications Center is the busiest in the state (ME)
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - The Penobscot Regional Communication Center is the busiest Public Safety Answering Point in the state. The director of the center says in 2019 they handled over 63,000 9-1-1 calls. They also took 289,000 other calls and made 1.5 million radio...
Carroll County short on funding for more staff at 911 center after revenue projections disappoint (MD)
Carroll County’s government expected to receive at least $1.7 million in new revenue from a statewide phone fee, but in reality the amount was about one-third of what county staff predicted. As a result, county officials who were hoping to use increased revenues from...
Santa Fe County weighs closure of juvenile detention facility (NM)
Santa Fe County is considering closing its juvenile detention center because of declining bookings, rising maintenance costs and growing liability risks, according to a memo sent to county commissioners earlier this week. Commissioners will direct the county to either...
Woman charged for abusing Jackson County 9-1-1 system (OR)
MEDFORD, Ore. – A woman pleaded guilty to improperly using 9-1-1 during a domestic dispute. The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office said on the afternoon of May 3, 2019, April Goheen called 9-1-1 in a “frantic voice.” She told a dispatcher her husband was at...
Sioux City Fire Rescue’s EMS division granted prestigious accreditation (IA)
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) -- Sioux City Fire Rescue has been granted accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, within two years of beginning operation of the EMS Division. The accreditation process examines all aspects of ambulance operations,...
Ralls County 911 extends partnership with Marion-Lewis 911 under new name (MO)
911 calls are going to a new place in one part of Northeast Missouri. Ralls County 911 officials said they have a new agreement to extend the partnership between Marion Ralls County 911, and it's saving them money as well. The partnership between the two dispatch...
Comtech Awarded $14.2 Million Multi-Year Contract Extension to Provide Enhanced 9-1-1 Technologies to U.S. Tier One Carrier
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 23, 2020-- Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL), a world leader in secure and highly reliable communication technology, announced that during its second quarter of fiscal 2020, its Safety & Security Technologies...
How behavioral ‘nudges’ can reduce burnout among 911 dispatchers
Cities across the United States are struggling with a growing public safety problem that’s largely invisible to the public: a shortage of people willing to work high-stress jobs answering 911 emergency calls. The problem is taking a toll on emergency...
Collierville dispatcher saves woman’s life at local restaurant (TN)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A Collierville dispatcher and restaurant worker teamed up to save the life of a woman who started choking during a dinner a Firebirds in Collierville. Dispatcher Tyler Barthel said his training on how to do the Heimlich maneuver properly became...
Chicago’s 911 emergency center to get a $75 million upgrade
The 20-year-old computer-aided dispatch system that forms the guts of Chicago’s 911 center will be replaced by a new system that accepts texts, photos and videos from emergency scenes. After years of planning, City Hall has chosen TriTech Software Systems to install...
Rockwall Police Communications Center serves as ‘Safe Trade Zone’ for internet purchases, child custody exchange (TX)
The Rockwall Police Department has designated the front of its Communications Center, located at 205 West Rusk, as a “Safe Trade Zone” for internet purchases and child custody exchange. The area is under 24 hours of surveillance to ensure safety... READ MORE
9-1-1 in need of help
PLYMOUTH CO. — In 2019, the Plymouth County Communications Center saw more than 19,500 calls for service with 6,000 of those 9-1-1 calls, according to Kirk Hatting, communications supervisor. Those numbers have increased substantially over the years as officers get...
Wake 911 now gets pics, video through text messages
Raleigh and Wake County residents have an additional way to communicate with 911. You can send a text message that includes pictures and videos to the Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center (911). A text or data plan is required to place a text to 911. Check...
NextNav plans to make vertical-location capability available in top 50 markets this year
NextNav this year plans to deploy sensors that will let cellular devices determine their vertical—or Z-axis—location for 911 purposes in at least the top 50 markets after securing $120 million in a funding to pay for the installation of the needed infrastructure,...
SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA’S 9-1-1 OUTAGE UNDER INVESTIGATION (MN)
Early this week, 9 counties in Southeastern Minnesota were affected by a 9-1-1 outage. The counties affected were: Rice, Steele, Goodhue, Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Wabasha, Winona, and Olmsted. A press release from the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office states...
Leawood police dispatcher arrested in connection with divulging confidential information (KS)
A Leawood police dispatcher has been arrested in connection with divulging confidential information, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday According to KBI spokeswoman Melissa Underwood, Kallie R. Turnbow, 39, of Olathe, was arrested about 12:30 p.m....
10 Lehigh County 911 center workers lose jobs after alleged New Year’s Eve drinking incident
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Ten Lehigh County 911 dispatchers, including some supervisors, have lost their jobs after drinking on the job. The alleged incident happened on New Year's Eve in the county's communications center in downtown Allentown. According to multiple sources,...
California Dispatchers Recognized as First Responders in New Legislation
California Dispatchers Recognized as First Responders in New Legislation
Thursday, January 23, 2020 (0 Comments)Posted by: Chris NussmanFrom the office of California Assemblymember Rudy Salas:
Today, Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) joined a group of public safety dispatchers from across the state for a press conference to celebrate Assembly Bill 1945 (AB 1945), which would recognize the brave work of public safety dispatchers by classifying them as first responders. Currently, the Federal government describes dispatchers as an “administrative” occupation. This classification does not accurately describe the work of dispatchers who undergo extensive training and whose work can mean the difference between life and death. The idea for this bill was brought to Assemblymember Salas by a local dispatcher from Kings County, Maribel Stinson, who emailed him directly suggesting the potential legislation.
“It is an honor to officially recognize the incredible work of our public safety dispatchers,” said Assemblymember Salas. “Dispatchers are vital to keeping our communities safe. When a hostage taker or a suicidal person calls 9-1-1, the first individual they speak with is often a dispatcher whose negotiation skills can save lives. I want to thank Ms. Stinson for contacting me with this idea. Her life-saving in the community was the start of AB 1945, which ensure that brave women and men who are working as dispatchers are properly acknowledged for their work.”
Public safety dispatchers or public safety telecommunicators play a vital role in emergency response. They routinely communicate with individuals in great distress, harm, fear, or injury, including during active shooter situations. Dispatchers are trained to coach callers through first aid, collect vital information for officers, and negotiate in a variety of hostile situations.
“I congratulate Assemblymember Rudy Salas for his introduction of important legislation that would rightfully designate 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders,” said Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). “For too long, federal and state agencies have categorized the work of 9-1-1 professionals as administrative or clerical in nature, which is inaccurate and a disservice to the specialized, lifesaving work done by dispatchers every day.”
Assemblymember Salas was joined at today’s press conference by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, a principal coauthor of the bill and former EMT, as well as dispatchers from the Central Valley, Monterey County, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Sonoma County. In addition, Allena Wiggins, President of the Northern California Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (NAPCO) and Lee Ann Magoski, President of the California National Emergency Number Association (CALNENA), attended in support of AB 1945.
There are currently over 6,000 dispatchers employed in California who responded to over 27 million 9-1-1 calls in 2018 alone. Additionally, these dispatchers responded to 28,014 emergency text messages which is up 10,000 from 2017.
Private LTE & 5G Network Ecosystem 2020-2030: Market Drivers & Challenges, Technologies, Applications, Regulatory Landscape, Deployment Case Studies, Value Chain, Player Profiles & Strategies
EIN News/ -- Dublin, Jan. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Private LTE & 5G Network Ecosystem: 2020 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals & Forecasts" report from SNS Telecom & IT has been added...
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.
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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.
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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.
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