Top Comm Center Headlines
News & Articles
Overtime has ‘exploded’ at understaffed Md. 911 center (MD)
“We don't have an option of operating below a certain level ... we must fill the seat. Our overtime has exploded," Scott Campbell, director of public safety, said ARROLL COUNTY, Md. — County staff say overtime has “exploded” at the Carroll County Emergency...
Emails revels city’s tumultuous handling of new regional 911 dispatch center (ID)
As Mayor David Condon's administration ardently and publicly advocated for the city to join a new emergency communications system, its own staff privately flagged possible violations against the union that would soon represent former city fire dispatchers. According...
Business people (KS)
Two new members were sworn into the Hutchinson Police Department last week, including an officer and a dispatch center manager. Communications Center Manager Jessica Lynch comes to Hutchinson with 15 years of experience in 911 emergency dispatch. She holds a Public...
Teton County has half the dispatchers it needs (WY)
JACKSON (WNE) — Teton County’s communications center has half the dispatchers it needs to adequately answer emergency calls and that means trouble. “We are one person away from not being able to answer 911 calls 24/7,” Sheriff Matt Carr told county commissioners...
911 center in Carroll County needs more positions and overtime has ‘exploded,’ staff tell commissioners (MD)
County staff say overtime has “exploded” at the Carroll County Emergency Communications Center and more people are needed to take 911 calls. One county commissioner at Thursday’s board meeting pushed for the county to hire more staff immediately, but the rest of the...
Employment opportunities aided by colleges (TX)
Area colleges and universities are hiring, and they have a wide range of opportunities in part-time and full-time positions, not only for teaching faculty but in most other fields as well, from pubic relations, network administration, accounting, maintenance, and this...
LifeFlight helicopter lands in Penobscot field following mechanical anomaly (ME)
A LifeFlight helicopter experienced an unanticipated mechanical issue in a main rotor blade during a flight to Bangor on Saturday evening, according to a Nov. 17 news release from the organization. At approximately 6:45 p.m., a LifeFlight pilot initiated...
The calm during the storm: First responders honored at No One Left Behind ceremony (AK)
A roomful of heroes were honored at the fourth annual No One Left Behind award ceremony. Students with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and the Fairbanks Rescue Mission collaborate to make...READ MORE
City of Springfield will not to be part of the new dispatch center (OH)
SPRINGFIELD — The City of Springfield will not join the new Clark County dispatch center despite years of negotiations between the city and county government. “Public safety and 911 dispatch are the most critical services that the public relies on us to...
Austin man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill 9-1-1 operator (TX)
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police arrested a man after he allegedly threatened to kill a 9-1-1 operator during a call, according to an arrest affidavit. On Wednesday, Nov. 6, police were sent to a Motel 6 at 1901 Airport Commerce Drive in southeast Austin for a check...
Sheriff’s office awarded 911 grant to upgrade dispatch consoles (KS)
PAOLA – The Miami County Sheriff's Office dispatch center is poised for an equipment upgrade. The sheriff’s office has learned it will receive a $284,272.80 state grant to purchase four P25 IP based dispatch consoles, according to a news release issued Tuesday, Nov....
Ready for anything: Needham’s emergency management admin faces communications struggle (MA)
NEEDHAM — After 10 years in the Navy as a fighter pilot - deployed in Japan and Washington state, Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Ping secured a master of science degree in emergency management and began working for Needham in 2017 as the town’s emergency management administrator....
Albemarle County seeks to hire own emergency coordinator
Albemarle County wants to shift from a regional emergency management coordinator to a county-specific staff member. Currently, the Charlottesville-UVa-Albemarle Office of Emergency Management is a division within the regional Emergency Communications Center and is...
911 center in Carroll County needs more positions and overtime has ‘exploded,’ staff tell commissioners (MD)
County staff say overtime has “exploded” at the Carroll County Emergency Communications Center and more people are needed to take 911 calls. One county commissioner at Thursday’s board meeting pushed for the county to hire more staff immediately, but the rest of the...
As I See It: A 911 dispatcher says thanks (OR)
As a public employee, I knew it would not be appropriate to write a letter to the editor before the election, but if I could have, this is what I would have said: It’s hard to describe the life of a 911 dispatcher on paper. We work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,...
911 Dispatch Centers Can Take Multiple Steps To Combat Cyberattacks
There are more than 6,000 dispatch points throughout the United States, and this vital emergency service is now under constant threat, because hackers are infiltrating dispatch centers and rerouting calls away from dispatchers. Malware and spear-phishing attacks...
Police dispatcher hopes to find forever home for cat waiting at shelter for 100 days (IN)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WJW) — A photo of a police dispatcher cuddling with a cat at the shelter is quickly going viral. According to the Bloomington Police Department in Indiana, Matt Smith stopped by the shelter this week to take some photos for the “Furever Friends”...
New 911 dispatch center breaks ground in Hillsboro
HILLSBORO, OR (KPTV) – A new 911 dispatch center in now under construction in Washington County. Police, firefighters, and emergency responders were all there to celebrate the groundbreaking in Hillsboro Thursday afternoon. The center will feature technology to boost...
A dispatcher shared a heartwarming moment with a shelter cat – now he wants to find her a home (IN)
5-year-old Nevada has [been] at the shelter for 97 days BLOOMINGTON - When dispatcher Matt Smith went to the animal shelter to take some photos for the Bloomington Police Department, he had no idea he would find a new mission. "Five-year-old Nevada had been waiting on...
New emergency alert system gains approval by Lyon County Commission Thursday (KS)
Lyon County Commissioners approved payment for a new emergency alert system for Lyon County first responders during their weekly action session Thursday. Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy made the request of payment for the...
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
Subscribe to Comm Center News
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
PARTNERS
Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates
Share Your Story
Join our community to share your experience and connect and collaborate with colleagues.
Join Our Newsletter
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the latestEmergency Communications News, Articles & Information.