Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced the graduation of 17 telecommunicators from the KSP Telecommunications Academy. These individuals have been assigned to 10 posts across the state, where they will answer the call of service by providing critical communication support to Kentuckians and law enforcement agencies.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston County 911 has strengthened their emergency response this week by upgrading their call handling capabilities. The Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center adopted new, more advanced call handling software that aims to improve emergency response for both the public and first responders.The upgrades include several key features that will increase efficiency and situational awareness, including: Voice to Text – Call takers will receive a real-time text transcription of the caller’s spoken words, improving accuracy and efficiency.Translation – This feature allows for seamless communication with non-English-speaking callers by automatically translating conversations in real time.Triage – The system prioritizes emergency calls, ensuring that simultaneous incidents, such as multiple calls about the same crash, do not delay responses to other emergencies.Location Services – If a caller’s location is not automatically transmitted, call takers can send a link to obtain precise handset coordinates. If the caller accepts the link, the call taker will temporarily have access to the caller’s exact location.Images and Video – Callers can share live images and video with the ECC, offering critical visual information to support response efforts.Responder Link – Call takers can transmit received images and videos directly to first responders in the field, enhancing situational awareness.READ MORE | Man killed in Moncks Corner train crash crossed safety bars: Preliminary reportIn addition, Charleston County has partnered with Carbyne to integrate the new system, alongside RapidDeploy Radius Mapping, which provides additional benefits, including:Access to caller-provided emergency data, such as preferred language and medical information.Outbound text messaging capabilities for two-way communication with 9-1-1 callers.Instant messaging between 9-1-1 centers for seamless information sharing.Crash data from OnStar, Bosch, and other vehicle safety services.Enhanced alarm data from security companies.“This new system represents a major advancement in how we handle emergency calls,” said Charleston County ECC Director Jim Lake. “By improving accuracy, communication, and situational awareness, it helps ensure that people in crisis get the help they need as quickly as possible. Our telecommunicators and first responders rely on clear and timely information, and these tools will make a real difference in their ability to respond effectively.”

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York County 911: Hear EMS summoned to attack at UPMC Memorial HospitalA hostage crisis at the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, left a West York Borough Police officer and the gunman dead, while five others were injured. Listen to real-time York County 911 transmissions between EMS providers. The Dispatch has requested the police 911 recordings.The York Dispatch’s efforts to obtain audio recordings and transcripts of 911 calls made during the hostage crisis inside UPMC Memorial Hospital that left a police officer and the suspect dead have been blocked.Many questions remain in the weeks following the Feb. 22 incident that left West York Police Officer Andrew Duarte and the suspect dead. Authorities haven’t released the names of other officers who were injured, the extent of their injuries and who fired the shots that fatally wounded Duarte. The fact that a sheriff’s deputy was also wounded wasn’t initially disclosed.Previously, authorities had said that two other responding officers and three hospital workers were injured. A fourth UPMC staffer was injured in a fall, they said.However, the Dispatch reported Monday that an unnamed York County Sheriff’s deputy also was among the injured. The two other wounded officers are from the Northern York County Regional and Springettsbury Township departments. > >Please consider subscribing to support local journalism.Pennsylvania State Police is the lead agency investigating the case that has shaken the community while also spurring an outpouring of support from around the country for Duarte and his family. Another investigation into UPMC by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is underway.York County 911 holds the recordings of communications during the incident but is under no legal obligation to release it, based on Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law that dictates and defines what constitutes a public record.But neither is the agency barred from releasing it.The Dispatch has been covering the incident and its fallout as a matter of immense public interest and believes a recording of the call would give the public a greater understanding of the full scope of what officers faced in that moment. It already obtained fire and EMS calls from the incident.UPMC Memorial Hospital attack: Listen to the real-time 911 transmissionsA hostage crisis at the UPMC Memorial Hospital ICU on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, left a West York Borough Police officer and the gunman dead, while five others were injured. Listen to real-time York County 911 transmissions between EMS providers. The Dispatch has requested the police 911 recordings.Publicizing the communication can also help promote public safety and the critical importance of mutual aide in emergency responses.In the county’s denial, county Solicitor Jonelle Eshbach cited the section of the law that states: “Records or parts of records, except time response logs, pertaining to audio recordings, telephone or radio transmissions received by emergency dispatch personnel, including 911 recordings” are exempt from access under the law.Since time-response log information held by the 911 department have an exception, Eshbach wrote in her response that the county searched for and received the information and it was attached through a link. It was not.The county’s paralegal, Aggie Puleo, responded to the Dispatch’s inquiry about the alleged attachment, writing that there should not have been a link to any record in the response. And since the Dispatch had not asked for the time-response logs, they were not provided, Puleo said.MORE: Unsealed documents shed light on FBI seizure of Congressman Scott Perry’s phoneMORE: Flatout Sim Racing brings rush of the track to simulation facility in York CountyMORE: West York boys carry the torch as last YAIAA team standing in state quarterfinalsThe Dispatch submitted a new request for the logs and was notified that the county invoked its right to an additional 30 days to respond to it, “as the extent or nature of your request precludes a response within the required five-day time period.”While agency records can be daunting to get from any level of government in Pennsylvania, agencies in other states release records like 911 call audio and police dash or body camera footage that appears on YouTube.The county told the Dispatch in its initial response that further documents or information regarding the Feb. 22 incident at UPMC “may be available from the municipality where the incident occurred, and/or the responding police department.”An official with West York Police Department, where fallen officer Andrew Duarte worked, advised the Dispatch to check with the county.A similar effort was made with the Pennsylvania State Police through a separate process designated for law enforcement agencies’ audio and video recordings. Rather than a standard records request, the Dispatch went to the state police headquarters outside of Harrisburg and hand-delivered a request.West Manchester Township, where the deadly incident at UPMC occurred, responded to the Dispatch by invoking the 30-day extension “to permit the police department to seek a legal review to determine whether the information sought is records subject to access under the Right to Know Law.”More: Inside the pledge far-right York County school board members had to sign to get key PAC’s endorsementMore: York City man arrested by ICE appears set to enter plea as he faces deportationMore: Hospital security in the spotlight after hostage crisis at UPMC MemorialEmergency response recordings, while readily available in other states, are seldom made public in Pennsylvania.And while agencies may release them, it would likely require a court order to compel them to do so since the state’s Office of Open Records, which typically hears appeals for records requests, does not have that discretion, according to Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.To be thorough, the Dispatch submitted an appeal of the county’s decision to the state.An effort by a news outlet, The Intercept, to get the 911 call recordings from the July 13 shooting of President Donald Trump in Butler County was a rare case from a Pennsylvania county that yielded records.After the county denied the request and the open records office denied the appeal, the national outlet elevated it to Butler County Court of Common Pleas.There, a Butler County judge ruled in October that due to the “unique, historical circumstances … which relate to the attempted assassination of a former president,” the court determined that the public interest in disclosure outweighed the interest in nondisclosure, citing a section of the RTKL seldom considered outside a courtroom when a 911 recording or its transcript is being sought.— Reach Mark Walters at mwalters@yorkdispatch.com. > >Please consider subscribing to support local journalism.

Maj. Jessica Pruett’s life has experienced a phenomenal transformation over the past four years. The Taylorsville resident, who is the director of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office E911, went from not being able to walk or talk to currently being at the top of her profession.On March 12, she was named the 2024 Communications Director of the Year at the 15th annual Georgia Emergency Communications Conference’s Awards Banquet in Columbus. The GECC is a joint offering of the Georgia chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency Number Association.

Everbridge, Inc., a provider of critical event management (CEM) and national public warning solutions, today announced that the City of Baltimore has deployed the Everbridge Public Safety platform, reinforcing its commitment to protecting residents and enhancing community resilience in the face of emergencies and large-scale events.As a vibrant and diverse city, Baltimore serves as a major hub on the East Coast, home to nearly 600,000 residents and millions of annual visitors. The BMORE Alert Mass Notification System, powered by Everbridge, strengthens the city’s ability to communicate rapidly and effectively during critical situations, ensuring that individuals receive timely, life-saving information when it matters most.
“Baltimore recognizes the importance of using the latest technology to keep our community safe,” said Joey Henderson, Director of the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management. “Everbridge equips us with a powerful platform to deliver timely and critical information to our residents, enhancing our overall emergency preparedness.”
The Everbridge Mass Notification solution enables Baltimore to reach its population through a multi-modal approach, including text, email, mobile app notifications, voice calls, TTY/TDD, and social media. This flexibility ensures that emergency messages can be disseminated quickly across multiple channels, reaching the right people at the right time—whether citywide or targeted to specific areas affected by an event.
To further strengthen its emergency communication capabilities, Baltimore has also implemented Everbridge Resident Connection, which enables city officials to draw geo-fenced shapes on a map, allowing them to accurately reach the largest number of people in those zones. This granular approach is essential for reaching vulnerable populations, including individuals with special needs, those dependent on medical devices, and residents with limited internet access.
“Everbridge is proud to support the City of Baltimore in its mission to safeguard residents and visitors,” said Dave Wagner, CEO of Everbridge. “By deploying our public safety technology, Baltimore is enhancing its ability to mitigate risk, improve situational awareness, and build a more resilient community.”
Baltimore joins a growing list of Maryland-based Everbridge customers, including hospitals, schools, public transportation systems, and local governments across Anne Arundel, Carroll, Queen Anne’s, and Prince George’s counties. Other major U.S. cities leveraging Everbridge technology include New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C.

NEWS RELEASE 25-010 – MARCH 14, 2025Pictured left to right: Dep. Mark Eve, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; Deps. Jonathon E. Carrier, Lynda K. Morris, Michael A. Randazzo, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; Deps. Clayton W. Reese, Maxwell B. Rifkin, Houston M. Dikeman, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; Dep. Yevgeny Chernyavskiy, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; Group photo: Lts. Christopher M. Perz, Christohper D. Maze, Gerardo M. Carrillo, Paul T. Cernansky; Sgts. Brian J. Bercaw, Kyle M. Collison, Samuel R. Lutz, Mark T. Tuls, J. Lincoln Dilling, Eric E. Griffin, Andrew T. Prummell; Detectives Chandler M. Hartman, Evan M. Bair, Alexander J. Conly, Dwight D. Mattis; Deps. Shane M. Ayala, Devin A. Berry, Christian Cedano, Houston M. Dikeman, Gabriel B. Eckert, Christopher McConnell, Christopher McGrain, Justin G. Osinga, John C. Fandozzi, Michael H. Watson, Patrick A. Bassett, David L. Clark, Robbie L. Martin, George B. Yock; Emergency Operations Supervisor Kristen A. Williams, Communications Operator I: Keri M. Halpin, Christine A. Peterson, Dionne M. Tomkins. Not pictured: Deputies Stephen D. Brown and  Angelo S. Akyan.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards at a ceremony on Thursday.
Deputy Mark A. Eve received the Life Saving Award for his response to a woman in distress at Siesta Key Beach whose husband was drowning. Eve recognized that the man was caught in a rip current and struggling to swim. Eve radioed dispatch, requested assistance from county lifeguards, and entered the water. He swam approximately 100 yards and encouraged the swimmer to float on his back while the deputy pulled him from the rip current and back to shore. Assistance was provided by a bystander who was an off-duty Lee County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant. Deputy Eve’s quick reaction and heroic efforts helped to save the life of this citizen.
Deputies Johnathon E. Carrier, Lynda K. Morris, and Michael A. Randazzo received the Life Saving Award for their response to a call concerning a victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Upon arrival the deputies observed an unconscious victim with labored breathing, a gunshot wound to his upper left chest, and an exit wound on his lower left back. Working together the deputies removed the victim’s shirt and used a wound-sealer on the chest and back to improve breathing. The victim was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital by Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) for treatment and survived. Deputy Carrier, Deputy Morris, and Deputy Randazzo showed extraordinary dedication in this successful life saving attempt.
Deputies Stephen D. Brown, Houston M. Dikeman, Maxwell B. Rifkin, and Clayton W. Reese received the Life Saving Award for their response to a report of a possible battery. Upon arrival they found a man with a significant cut on his upper arm that was bleeding heavily after punching through a window. The deputies quickly jumped to action with Rifkin applying a tourniquet to the injured arm. Reece assisted in the application of the tourniquet while Brown retrieved more medical supplies from his agency vehicle. Then, Dikeman, Reese, and Rifkin moved the victim to a better location to accurately assess the injuries. Arriving paramedics noted that they had never seen someone survive such excessive blood loss. The quick response and collaborative work of Deputy Brown, Deputy Dikeman, Deputy Rifkin, and Deputy Reese saved this man’s arm and his life.
Deputies Angelo S. Akyan, and Yevgeniy Chernyavskiy received the Life Saving Award for their response to a call reporting a 50-year-old male suffering a medical episode near the Beneva and Proctor Roads intersection. The patient had been riding his bike in the area when the episode took place, and he lost consciousness and fell from his bicycle onto the roadway. Upon arrival Akyan found the patient unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse. He administered chest compressions while Chernyavskiy retrieved his manual resuscitator to provide rescue breaths while compressions continued. They completed multiple rounds of compressions and breaths for approximately 6-7 minutes until EMS arrived. Just before EMS arrived a faint pulse was detected. EMS continued life-saving measures and transported the patient to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Deputy Akyan and Deputy Chernyavskiy were praised for their efforts and undoubtedly played a role in saving the patient’s life.
The Meritorious Achievement Award was presented to the following members of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for their response during the catastrophic water damage to many parts of Sarasota County during Hurricane Debby:
Special Operations AdministrationLieutenant Christopher M. PerzLieutenant Christopher D. Maze
Emergency Response Team (ERT)Lieutenant Gerardo M. CarrilloSergeant Brian J. BercawSergeant Kyle M. CollisonDetective Evan M. BairDetective Alexander J. ConlyDetective Dwight D. MattisDeputy Shane M. AyalaDeputy Devin A. BerryDeputy Christian CedanoDeputy Houston M. DikemanDeputy Gabriel B. EckertDeputy Christopher McConnellDeputy Christopher McGrainDeputy Justin G. Osinga
Marine UnitSergeant Samuel R. LutzDeputy John C. FandozziDeputy Michael H. Watson
Incidence Dispatch TeamEmergency Operations Supervisor Kristen A. WilliamsCommunications Operator I Keri M. HalpinCommunications Operator I Christine A. PetersonCommunications Operator I Dionne M. Tomkins
Agricultural UnitLieutenant Paul T. CernanskySergeant Mark T. TulsDeputy Patrick A. BassettDeputy David L. ClarkDeputy Robbie L. MartinDeputy George B. Yock
SURF (Dive Team)Sergeant J. Lincoln DillingSergeant Eric E. GriffinSergeant Andrew T. PrummellDetective Chandler M. Hartman
This group, comprised of 34 SCSO members from various teams and units, worked together in response to record-breaking rainfall above 15 inches in some areas within a 24-hour period. In order to begin rescue efforts, the Agricultural Unit utilized boats and some personally owned vehicles to access areas along rivers and canals. What initially began with only the Agricultural Unit and ERT, quickly transitioned into a full-team callout which included the additional resources of the Marine Unit and the SURF/Dive Team to aid Sarasota County citizens. Additional support was then requested by other agencies and the SCSO Incident Dispatch Team played a crucial role in coordinating evacuations, keeping units updated, and organizing rescue efforts among neighboring law enforcement agencies, including the Sarasota Police Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Venice Police Department, and SCFD. 587 evacuations and 11 animal rescues were accomplished because of the exceptional and efficient teamwork of these employees working for the purpose of public safety.  
The sheriff’s office presented a certificate of recognition to Derrick Wohlfehrt for his response when a vehicle crashed into a ditch and the driver was trapped inside. Wohlfehrt is the owner of the home at the address where the crash took place. When Wohlfehrt realized that the driver was trapped, incapacitated, and could not exit the vehicle, he opened the driver’s side door and pulled the driver out of the vehicle to a safe location. Wohlfehrt’s quick thinking and decisive action were instrumental in saving the life of the driver who ultimately escaped the accident uninjured.
Sarasota County Fire Fighter/Paramedic Charles Mungovan, Daniel Loper, and Justin Snauffer each received a certificate of recognition from the sheriff’s office for their actions at the scene of a multi-vehicle accident along I-75. A white SUV had been reported traveling southbound and weaving in and out at high speeds along I-75 using the right-hand shoulder as a travel lane. The SUV, while going at full speed, then struck a semi-truck parked along the interstate. A handful of witnesses stopped to provide aid as the vehicle burst into flames with the driver still inside. Looper rushed to the aid of the driver and removed him from the burning vehicle. Snauffer and Mungovan ran to assist with carrying the driver to a safer location in front of the semi-truck. When Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived, Mungovan was assessing the driver’s injuries. The deputies became the direct line of communication with dispatch. The driver was transported to the hospital, treated for minor injuries, and released the next day. Because of the selfless actions of these good Samaritans — Daniel Looper, Justin Snauffer, and Charles Mungovan — the driver’s life was saved.
“This agency is proud to have so many members who are constantly giving their very best for the citizens of Sarasota County!” stated Sheriff Hoffman. “These members have applied their training and proven their commitment to our community with their heroic efforts and selfless work. We are also grateful to live in a community where good Samaritans still exist and care about their neighbors.”

Please tell us a little about yourself.“I was born and raised in Yazoo City, Mississippi.  I’ve lived in Tennessee for approximately 22 years and currently live in Lebanon.”Married, children?“I’ve been married for 24 years and have three  handsome sons, ages 22, 12 and 8.”Education?“Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Western Governor’s University.”What was your first job?“Cashier at a fast-food restaurant.”Why did you get into law enforcement?“I was born with a heart to serve, and I believe this is the field of work that God sent me to be of service.”Has law enforcement always been your career?“Yes. I started out with Metro Nashville Emergency Communications Center and spent four years there before coming to MJPD.”How long have you worked at MJPD?“Seventeen years. My first job there was as a dispatcher/call-taker. I have been supervisor for approximately seven years. (Editor’s Note: Evans was named MJPD Supervisor of the Year in 2020 and 2024).”What is the communications center?“The Communications Center is a central facility responsible for receiving and managing emergency and non-emergency calls and coordinating the response to those calls.”Is this 911 dispatch?“We do not take the initial 911 call. The Wilson County 911 Center receives the initial call to verify jurisdiction and then transfers the call to the correct agency within Wilson County.”What are your duties? “I oversee the communications personnel; manage shift schedules, ensuring adequate staffing levels to handle call volume at all times; supervise the dispatch process to ensure the correct allocation of resources (police, fire, EMS, etc.) based on the nature and urgency of the call.  I also assess staff performance, conduct evaluations and provide feedback to improve efficiency and service quality. I supervise 16 employees.”Do you take calls as part of your job?“Yes, this can be a part of my job should the need arise.”What shift do you work?“It varies sometimes due to Communications being a 24/7 operation, but most days are 7 a.m.-3 p.m.”What generally is the percentage of emergency calls vs. non-emergency?“I would say approximately 40 percent emergency and 60 percent non-emergency.”Variety of calls you (or your employees) get on a typical day?“Medical calls, reckless drivers, burglary and fire alarms, wrecks, and general crimes against persons and property.”What is the most impactful emergency call you’ve run across in the past five years?“It was the tornado in 2020.  It was mass devastation, and each call was impactful as several people needed help that night and for several days after. The response from MJPD was amazing.”How do people know when it’s an emergency?“When a threat to life, health, property, or public safety requires immediate intervention. (Editor’s note: MJPD non-emergency number is (615) 754-2550, extension 0 for dispatch).”What type of training is needed?“Basic telecommunications training, police, medical, and fire dispatch certification, TCPR certification, NCIC and TIES certification.”Do you supervise the Nixle notifications?“No. This is handled primarily by Deputy Chief Tyler Chandler.”Best piece of advice you’ve received or given?“Always put God first and remain humble.”Hobbies?“Reading, playing games with my kids and listening to music.”If you could spend an evening with anyone, past or present, who and why?“I would love to spend an evening with Jesus Christ. I’d ask for a master class on navigating life.”Current obsession? “My family. It is my absolute goal right now to be a better wife, mother, daughter and sibling to my family. This means taking better care of myself.”What do you do to relieve stress from job?“Music is a major stress relief for me. I love all genres of music and can genuinely get lost in it.  Exercising has also become a good strategy for relieving work stress.”Where would you like to travel?“Jamaica.”Your favorite family time activity? “Playing Uno.”

QUAY COUNTY, N.M. (KFDA) – The Tucumcari Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center says 911, the non-emergency line and all radios are down in the area.This is impacting both Quay and Harding counties.This also includes the Conchas Dam area. If you need police, fire or EMS, you can call dispatch cell phones at (575) 403-9103. If you call 911, the call will go through to New Mexico State Police.Copyright 2025 KFDA. All rights reserved.

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2025 – Judges declined Wednesday to pause the Federal Communications Commission’s order giving AT&T’s FirstNet access to portions of the 4.9 GigaHertz band.“Movants have not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review,” a three-judge panel from the D.C. Court of Appeals said in a unanimous order.The National Sheriff’s Association and San Francisco’s public transit agency, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), had asked judges to put the October 2024 order on hold while legal challenges play out.

Brandon McClintock has been named executive director of the Jasper County 911 dispatch center by the Jasper County Emergency Services board of directors.The board said McClintock has a 17-year history with the center and has extensive experience in emergency communication, strategic planning and public safety operations.“We are thrilled to welcome Brandon into this leadership role,” Greg Dagnan, chair of the Jasper County Emergency Services Board, said in a statement. “His deep understanding of our operations, commitment to excellence, and passion for serving our community make him the ideal choice to guide our emergency communications center into the future.”As executive director, McClintock will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 911 center.

The Minnesota House Public Safety Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would require local law enforcement to report an individual arrested for a violent offense to ICE and to cooperate in data sharing with federal immigration authorities.

In emergency situations, people often fixate on the first responders’ arrival time, unaware of the critical steps that make this process quick and effective. A key factor is reliable, secure and uninterrupted public safety communications, which enable responders to coordinate efficiently and save lives.

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A former Executive Director of Salt Lake City 911 shared his firsthand experience with some of the challenges regarding Utah’s new statewide communications system.2News has been covering the reported issues from first responders involving the new system after learning of the ongoing radio failures and coverage concerns in the last few months.”This is just one of the cases, I just thought, ‘man, I told you so,” said Stephen Meyer, who worked at SLC 911 for roughly two years. “Anyone that was involved in the planning in this, could see this coming.”Meyer said Utah Communications Authority rolled out a previous statewide 9-1-1 system that was “plagued with problems. Meyer mentioned Salt Lake City planned to overhaul their own radio communications system at one point.”For Salt Lake, it made more sense for us to go it alone,” Meyer said. “Well UCA got involved and they threatened the city administration that they were going to come forward and go through the legislative process and basically force us to go with them if we don’t ‘play nice’.”Meyer said that Salt Lake City didn’t want to risk a loss of funding which resulted in the city moving forward with UCA’s new statewide radio project. Meyer says that he, along with the Salt Lake City police and fire chiefs objected to the move.”UCA has publicly threatened, publicly behind-the-scenes has threatened agencies with funding, political retribution, legislative action, if you don’t go along with them, they’re going to find a way to make you go along with them,” Meyer said. “For these agencies, especially the smaller ones, they don’t have the tax money coming in, they don’t have the dollars where they can make up for that loss of funding. Salt Lake City would have probably been able to figure it out.”Meyer has seen some of 2News’ coverage on the issues being reported by first responders and wanted to speak out.”I think anyone that would put these political decisions above the brave men and women who are out there protecting us, whether they’re on the fire side or the police side, they should be ashamed the way this project was handed,” Meyer said. “The system frankly shouldn’t have even been launched without better testing being done to make sure that these types of things weren’t going to happen.”Meyer believes the problems with the system could continue for ‘a while’, citing the scale of the system and the fixes required.Meyer, who joined SLC 911 in 2021, said he was terminated in 2023 over voicing concerns about various projects brought forward by communications departments and centers, including Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center. “While I was on FMLA, I was terminated for not engaging with the other center,” Meyer said about his termination. “There are certain risks that we can’t control. We can’t control the bad guys with guns, we can’t control the structure fires, but we can control the radio issue,” Meyer said. “We can control the politics that gets involved and standing in the way of making these things go forward, right?” _____

Today’s complex environment presents school administrators and security professionals with a range of emergencies they must protect students, faculty, and staff against, from severe weather and unauthorized intruders to potential violent incidents.
Although high-profile, mass-casualty events often capture headlines, most emergencies in schools are smaller in scale, yet still require rapid and reliable responses. Two key technologies that bolster school safety are the Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems (ERRCS) and the Public Safety Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).
An ERRCS enables first responders to communicate through two-way radios (walkie-talkies) during an emergency. An ERRCS amplifies signals from local emergency radio towers throughout a building, while also boosting outgoing radio signals from the radios of individual emergency first responders.
RELATED: New Campus Emergency Communications Survey Highlights Advances in Mass Notification and Panic Alarm Systems
ERRCS and public safety DAS are both systems that improve communication, but they have different purposes. ERRCS is for emergency first responders, while DAS is for general mobile cellular communications within the school.
Together, these systems provide an integrated communication backbone that seamlessly integrates with other security systems to create proactive, resilient, and enterprise-wide security and safety capabilities. Traditional communication methods like Wi-Fi calling or cellular networks can falter during emergencies due to network overload. Dedicated systems like ERRCS and Public Safety DAS are designed to overcome these limitations. They ensure that first responders, school administrators, and security teams can communicate clearly and reliably, regardless of commercial network conditions.
In environments such as concrete buildings or underground garages where radio and cellular signals are typically weak, these systems are critical. Regulations by organizations like the NFPA and IFC mandate robust in-building coverage on UHF, VHF, and 700/800 MHz frequencies, underscoring the importance of dependable communication in life-critical scenarios.
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Understanding ERRCS and Public Safety DAS
So, what’s the difference between ERRCS and Public Safety DAS? Here’s a breakdown.
Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS)
ERRCS is built primarily for first responders, offering a dedicated two-way radio channel that remains operational during emergency incidents. Unlike commercial networks, which may become congested or unreliable, ERRCS channels are prioritized so that emergency personnel can communicate without interruption. The ECCRS frequency channels that integrate fire and police first responder radios are totally separate from those frequencies that the local two-way radio communication system that the school has in place. ERRCS’ mission is to provide an unbreakable communication link when every second counts.
ERRCS standards are set by bodies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to ensure that ERRCS installations meet strict criteria. For instance, NFPA 72 outlines requirements for design, installation, and maintenance so systems perform reliably even in challenging conditions.
Public Safety Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
While ERRCS strengthens first responder two-way radio communications capabilities at the school campus, public DAS strengthens cellular coverage for anyone with a cell phone. DAS works by distributing cellular frequencies and enhance signal strength through a grid network of strategically located antennas. This is particularly beneficial in large, multi-story school buildings or those with dense construction materials that may block or weaken cellular signals.
RELATED: Are Emergency Communications Systems Too Complicated for Real-World Incident Response?
A DAS amplifies and spreads the cellular signal throughout the school building to ensure that the school’s emergency personnel, administrators, educators, and staff maintain uninterrupted connectivity, even during emergencies when commercial cellular networks might be overloaded.
Real-Life Scenario: Swift Response to a Security Breach
Imagine a suburban high school where an unauthorized individual breaches a secured entry point. Without an integrated communication system, the response might be delayed, leading to greater risk and exposure to danger. If a school has an ERRCS in place, local law enforcement will be able to instantly coordinate their response when they arrive at the school campus.
A public safety DAS will also be able to maintain robust cellular coverage throughout the school building, allowing school administrators, teachers, and security staff to send critical updates to first responders as they make their way through the school to mitigate the breach. This type of coordinated response, integrated with real-time video surveillance and access control, can help to quickly contain the incident with minimal disruption to school operations.
Navigating a Severe Weather Event
Severe weather conditions can create chaotic conditions, challenging even the best-prepared schools. For example, a large school district might experience a sudden thunderstorm that results in localized power outages. Traditional commercial cellular networks might be overwhelmed with calling traffic, but schools equipped with public safety DAS would continue to receive strong reliable communications. This enables administrators to promptly issue mass notification messages through text, email, and voice alerts.
Simultaneously, ERRCS ensures that first responder law enforcement, fire department, and emergency personnel will be able coordinate their response at the school. The combination of ERRCS, DAS, and a school’s two-way radio systems will enable a swift and organized response to an emergency.
Building an Integrated Safety and Security Ecosystem
Modern school campuses require a multi-layered approach to security and safety. ERRCS and Public Safety DAS serve as foundational components that work in tandem with other security measures and systems to create a comprehensive safety and integrated enterprise-wide security program.
Key elements include:
Video Security: Continuous surveillance and real-time video analytics help monitor critical campus areas, gathering areas and circulation pathways. AI-powered systems can detect unusual behaviors or unauthorized individuals, enabling preemptive action.
Access Control: Secure entry systems combined with automated alerts ensure that only authorized personnel can have access to school premises. These systems can also integrate with emergency protocols to initiate a school-wide lockdown, to unlock doors for safe evacuations or to allow quick access for first responders.
Mass Notification Systems: In any emergency, clear communication is vital. Mass notification systems can deliver urgent alerts to staff, parents, and local authorities via text, email, and voice, ensuring everyone is informed in real time of not only what is happening and the nature of the emergency, but also what actions they should take.
Environmental Sensors: Sensors can be implemented to detect anomalies, such as sudden temperature changes, chemical leaks, or unusual sounds. These sensors can alert security personnel to potential threats before they escalate.

When these elements are unified on a single platform, schools become less reactive and more proactive at emergency management. Integrating security and communication technologies not only reduces risks, but they can improve the learning environment because administrators, teachers, and staff no longer need to worry about their ability to respond in an emergency — they can now focus on providing the best educational experience for their students. Security and safety have become an integral part of daily school operations.
Cost and Implementation Considerations
Investing in ERRCS and Public Safety DAS is more than a matter of regulatory compliance; it is a commitment to the ongoing safety of the school occupants and property. The cost of an ERRCS system can vary, typically ranging from $1 to $4 per square foot depending on building layout complexity, number of floors, and construction materials.
When planning implementation, schools should have professional consultants and communications contractors conduct a thorough assessment and develop a plan based on factors such as building layout, population density, construction materials, and potential radio frequency interference (RFI)/electromagnetic interference (EMI) sources. It is also critical to ensure that installation of the ERRCS and DAS comply with current standards like NFPA 72 (with updates like NFPA 1225 on the horizon) and FCC regulations to guarantee optimal performance during an emergency.
RELATED: 5 Key Features of An Effective School Communication System
Investing in an Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS) on school campuses is a critical decision that offers substantial long-term benefits, including faster emergency response times, improved coordination among responders, and the potential to save lives.
While specific statistical data on ERRCS implementation in schools is limited, several key points underscore its importance:
ERRCS ensures that first responders can maintain seamless communication during crises
Many jurisdictions have adopted stringent fire and building codes mandating reliable in-building radio coverage for emergency responders
A significant number of U.S. schools have areas that do not meet building code requirements for minimum indoor radio signal strength

Addressing these gaps through ERRCS and public safety DAS installations at a school is essential for safety.
The Future of School Safety
As technology evolves, so do the tools available for improving school security and safety. The next generation of security, two-way school radio, ERRCS, and DAS systems will incorporate advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning data analytics, which will be able to predict and identify emerging threats before they fully develop. These proactive capabilities, combined with the robust unified communication networks at our schools, promise an even safer school environment.
Investing in these advanced security, safety and communications technologies should remain a top priority for school administrators. With enhanced predictive tools, school administrators, teachers, and staff can focus more on teaching and operating the building better, and less on reacting to emergencies.
Real-life scenarios have shown that when every element of a comprehensive enterprise security, safety and communications programs function together, response times improve, risks are minimized, and the overall environment becomes safer for everyone.

William Sako is a senior officer with Telgian Engineering & Consulting, a fire protection and security consulting company. He can be reached at his office at (847) 595-1160, his mobile phone at (847) 417-8023 or via his e-mail at [email protected].

NOTE: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.

WATCH LIVE! Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Awards Ceremony at the Church of Viera. SPACE COAST DAILY TV: On Friday night, Sheriff Wayne Ivey and his Command Staff hosted the annual Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Awards Ceremony at the Church of Viera. Deputy of the...

If you’ve ever wanted to be the calming voice on the other side of a crisis call, now’s the opportunity. Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center is looking for individuals ready to serve their community in times of distress. The Center has opened applications for its 911 Training Academy, inviting candidates to join the ranks of those crucial first points of contact during emergencies.For people looking to embark on a career of a significant impact, this could be the move. The academy, kicking off on June 12, is a 12 to 14 week dive into the skills necessary to manage critical situations over the phone. And here’s an enticing bit of info for job seekers—no prior experience is required. The job starts at a salary of $45,323.
Interested applicants have from today through April 6 to throw their hat into the ring. According to the release by the Raleigh Emergency Communications Center, the selection process includes a full background check, a job simulation, and an interview. This is to ensure that candidates are not only competent but also possess the emotional fortitude and quick-thinking capabilities needed for the role.
Those seeking more details or ready to submit their application can do so by visiting the official announcement on the City of Raleigh website.

Samsung Electronics America today announced that the Chicago Police Department deployed 10,000 Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones to its officers. The Chicago Police Department is using Samsung mobile devices to help modernize police work where officers need to process vast amounts of information while personally engaging with their communities. The Samsung smartphones each include Samsung DeX, which gives users the experience of working on a desktop by connecting a smartphone or tablet to an external display device such as a TV, monitor or PC.1 Samsung DeX enables officers to quickly pivot from mobile to desktop experiences inside their vehicles – all without needing to return to their stations.Samsung first partnered with the Chicago Police Department to launch a technology proof of concept in 2018. Under the expanded relationship, Samsung now provides mobile devices, Samsung DeX desktop experiences, and Samsung Knox security technologies for the city’s entire fleet of law enforcement, and has expanded to equip the Chicago Fire Department, as well. Today, Chicago’s police and firefighters rely upon Samsung technologies for secure information and communications as they protect and serve Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Giving Public Servants the Modern Mobile Tools They Need to Serve the Public
Chicago sought out technologies that would enable officers to engage with the people in their neighborhoods while reducing their time spent at desks processing paperwork. The Chicago Police Department is the second largest police force in the United States by sworn member size, with officers representing many ages and levels of experience, and the department needed to deploy a user-friendly technology that every person could use.
Paired with vehicle-mounted docks2, Samsung Galaxy smartphones proved to be the perfect modern solutions for officers. Moving from laptops to handheld devices enabled Chicago’s police to carry their tools everywhere, dramatically improving their ability to gather and access information in the field. “Thanks to Samsung DeX, we went from 3,000 vehicle-mounted laptops to around 10,000 Galaxy S-series phones that are now either assigned to officers or in a specific vehicle daily,” said Dennis Baliga, Deputy Director of IT Infrastructure, City of Chicago’s Office of Public Safety Administration.
The Chicago Fire Department chose Galaxy Tab tablets with unified mounts, using Samsung DeX in Vehicle to provide the same consistent desktop experience when connecting tablets to in-vehicle displays. Firefighters know that they’ll see the same desktop interface regardless of whether they are in a fire truck on the South Side or North Side of the city.

Samsung Technologies Are Improving Efficiency and Streamlining User Experiences
Using Samsung Knox Suite – Samsung’s enterprise-grade security platform – technology teams can design the mobile and desktop interfaces they want users to see on their devices, streamlining access to critical and secure applications. Better yet, Samsung Knox makes device setup fast. The Chicago Police Department reduced the amount of time spent provisioning a phone by 75%, compared with three years ago, saving the city’s teams countless hours.
“Between our Galaxy devices, Knox Suite, and Samsung DeX, they are really increasing efficiency and improving their cost savings,” said Todd Maxwell, Samsung U.S. Director of Business Development.
With custom configuration, Samsung devices enable officers to quickly access a wealth of specialized information directly from the field.

“Our Galaxy devices allow us access to state and local databases, city licensing and permitting, so at a special event, I’m able to check the parameters of a special event permit. We also have access to specific applications, like the Department of Transportation hazmat guide. Instead of carrying a big book that is inches thick and several pounds, I have an app on my phone. And I can access city service requests. If I need to report a pothole or traffic lights out, I can do it right from the phone,” explained Aaron Levine, Chicago Police Department Entertainment Venue Team Sergeant.
Samsung Knox also offers unparalleled device security – a must-have for officers who routinely handle sensitive data in the field.
“We trust the partnership we have with Samsung. As officers run people’s names, run their license plates, and are also logging into their systems, we have to worry about security like data leaks and HIPAA information. We are confident in Knox security. It ensures that they can do their job safely and securely,” said Dan Sullivan, Electrical Mechanic, City of Chicago’s Office of Public Safety Administration.
Supporting The Future of Public Safety and Services

From the versatile mobile-to-desktop transitions powered by DeX to the streamlined yet powerful and secure customizations enabled by Knox, Samsung equips public agencies and organizations with the technologies they need to meet modern challenges – from their offices and in the field. Samsung is dedicated to continually improving its products to support customers with cutting-edge innovations that precisely meet their needs.
The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department’s successful implementation of Samsung’s solutions are already changing the way public servants interact with their communities, better preparing officers and firefighters to meet today’s neighborhood challenges. Samsung is continuing to develop tools that will improve communications, and outcomes for an even wider range of public agencies throughout the United States.
For more information about Samsung DeX, please visit https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/dex/
For more information about Samsung Knox, please visit https://www.samsungknox.com/