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Roanoke 911-dispatchers to donate over 100 pounds of food for Thanksgiving (VA)
ROANOKE, Va. (WSET) -- Over 100 pounds of food will be donated to local food banks just in time for Thanksgiving. Over 100 pounds will be donated just in time for Thanksgiving. Canned beans, boxed mashed potatoes and corn are among the items to be donated to local...
Eau Claire Co. dispatchers see increase in 911 hang-ups (WI)
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -- The Eau Claire County Communications Center says they are having major issues with people calling 911 and hanging up. They say this has been a growing problem and can sometimes be a misuse of their resources. “If we don't speak to someone,...
South Carolina 911 caller tells dispatcher, I just killed my wife and stepdaughter (SC)
In a chilling 911 call, a South Carolina man told dispatchers he had fatally stabbed his wife and stepdaughter in the driveway of their home, authorities said. “I don’t want to admit it," said the caller, who identified himself as Anthony Lamar Gathers II. "I...
Helicopter shopping part 1 – hospital dispatchers
In the first of two articles, James Paul Wallis looks at the role that hospital dispatchers play in the complicated issue of helicopter air ambulance ‘shopping’ in the US healthcare system, a practice that has potentially fatal consequences Wherever a region is served...
New York State Police Look For Dispatchers (NY)
November 26 is the deadline for anyone who wants to serve the public as a Communication Specialist for the New York State Police. New York State Police Logo Applications for those interested in taking the exam for the job must be postmarked by the end of the...
Making a difference: Former reporter, dispatcher joins Mesquite City Council (TX)
Mesquite’s new City Council members took the oath of office last week, and two fresh faces join the re-elected members and new mayor. One of the new faces on council is former Mesquite News reporter and city of Mesquite dispatcher Kenny Green. How long were you with...
Washington County adding dispatchers, making moves to address critical staffing situation (MD)
Washington County plans to hire six full-time 911 dispatchers, possibly by February, to help an emergency communications staff that has logged hundreds of hours of overtime in the past year, the dispatch center’s operations manager said. The county also is taking...
W.Va. county 911 dispatchers recognized as first responders (WV)
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A West Virginia county passed a resolution recognizing 911 dispatchers as first responders. The resolution was signed by the Marion County Commission on Tuesday, according to the WDTV. The text of the resolution states that dispatchers make the same...
On the Agenda: Eugene officials plan for public safety tax implementation (OR)
City councilors will hear an update on the administration of the tax during a Monday work session. The city didn’t provide any details in the staff report that went out ahead of the meeting. The tax, which the City Council approved in June, is projected to initially...
Motion denied to dismiss dispatchers’ lawsuit (CO)
United States District Judge William Martinez has denied the Board of County Commissioners’ motion to dismiss Nicole Garner’s, Maria Chavez’ and Chelsa Parsons’ civil lawsuit against Lake County Government. The women, all of whom worked as dispatchers under former...
Three NHS workers die suddenly while working for same ‘toxic’ ambulance trust (UK)
EXCLUSIVE: Ambulance dispatcher Luke Wright and paramedics Christopher Gill and Richard Grimes all died suddenly after a whistleblower raised concerns about psychological abuse An ambulance service where three staff have died of suspected suicide in two weeks has been...
Pennsylvania Man Had a Stroke at Chicago Hotel. He Lost About 16 Million Brain Cells as 9-1-1 Dispatchers Figured Out Where He Was. (PA)
Duane Raible did not know it at the time, but in the early morning hours of Oct. 2, the Pennsylvania man was having a major stroke. "The whole room went bizarre. I almost passed out. I pushed myself back to the bed and lay down," Raible said. "I realized right then...
When a Woman Called 911 for Pepperoni Pizza, a Dispatcher Recognized a Call for Help (OR)
When Oregon, Ohio, emergency dispatcher Tim TenEyck received a call earlier this month from a woman who said she wanted to order a pizza, he initially thought she’d dialed the number by mistake. About half the calls he’s received in his 14 years as a dispatcher hadn’t...
911 dispatchers hear gunfire as Decatur residents call in to report shots fired (IL)
DECATUR — Police said 911 dispatchers in Decatur could hear the sound of multiple gunshots as worried residents called in to report weapons fire in their neighborhood early Saturday. Detective Sgt. Chris Copeland with Decatur Police said officers were sent to the 600...
A Woman Ordered A Pizza From 911 To Report That Her Mother Was Being Abused
An Ohio woman used "ordering a pizza" as code to let a 911 operator know her mother was in danger, and the operator is now being praised for his quick thinking. The Nov. 13 call came into Oregon, Ohio, 911 dispatcher Tim Teneyck, who was initially confused by the...
Front Lines | Dispatcher steps up to save teen (PA)
EBENSBURG – Cambria County’s 911 center handled 56,000 emergency calls last year. Telecommunication Officer Tina Stimely received a 911 emergency call on Oct. 19 from a Southmont home. Stimely’s training would determine what would happen next. “This is a...
Vermont State Police Captain retires after 34 years (VT)
WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) The most current, longest tenured trooper in the Vermont State Police has retired. Capt. Tom Hango began his career with State Police in 1986, as an auxiliary trooper and part-time dispatcher. He became a full-time trooper in 1990. Capt. Hango...
Question a Cop: What happens when I call 911? (MN)
Calling 911 is something everyone knows to do in case of an emergency. However, you may not know exactly what happens between dialing the number and an officer arriving on scene. In this week’s article, we’ll answer the question of who’s taking the call and what to do...
Clever pizza order alerts Ohio 911 dispatcher to domestic violence incident (OH)
OREGON, Ohio - A quick-thinking woman placing a bogus pizza order and a sharp 911 dispatcher teamed up to halt a recent domestic violence incident in Ohio, multiple news outlets reported. According to Toledo’s The Blade, an insistent caller ordering a large pizza...
Nave: Foreign language 911 calls increase (KY)
As Owensboro and Daviess County have become home to more diverse populations, the city-county 911 dispatch center has also seen an increase in the diversity of languages they are hearing on emergency calls. While Spanish and Burmese are the foreign languages that...
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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