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Where There’s a Will There’s a Way: Myanmar Refugee Becomes Albany’s Newest Police Dispatcher
ALBANY — When an Albany man from Myanmar called 911 late one evening following the assault of his daughter, he didn’t expect the voice on the other end of the line to share his native language. But when he reached Albany Police Department’s newest dispatcher, Francis...
Mayor, chief respond to police dispatcher frustration
Days after a Sarnia police dispatcher called prolonged wait times for non-emergency calls “embarrassing” and appealed for the city to hire more officers, police chief Norm Hansen says Sarnia residents should not be worried about sub-par service. It is “not common” for...
Tuft earns Dispatcher of the Year award
Grand County Sheriff’s Dispatch employee Jenny Tuft was named Dispatcher of the Year when the Utah Sheriff’s Association held its annual conference Tuesday, Sept. 17, in St. George. The award relates to a medical emergency that occurred in December. The citation...
Edinburg dispatchers use new technology to video chat 911 callers
EDINBURG (KGBT) — When someone calls 911 they are often in distress and may have difficulty describing what is happening around them, but the Edinburg Police Department is hoping to change that by using new technology that makes it easier for dispatchers to...
Dispatcher makes case for more Sarnia police officers
A veteran Sarnia police dispatcher is calling for more officers to help serve the city properly. Courtney Thornton told the police services board Thursday morning that the service is extremely understaffed. She said over her 19 years, the number of calls has...
Albany Mayor Sheehan Supports Residency Requirements for 911 Dispatchers
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan is responding to concerns from the head of the city's police union about staffing levels in the 911 communications center. Greg McGee has said the city currently has only 26 dispatchers, with four more in training. The mayor says while it is...
Telecom board considers payment overlap
While operations of the Webster County 911 dispatch center were being handed over to New Jersey-based IXP, there was about a two-week period where there was an overlap in payments, according to Webster County Chief Deputy Rod Strait, the chairman of the Webster County...
Commissioner approve plan to temporarily bring Somerset County employees to Franklin County dispatch center
ARMINGTON - County commissioners approved a plan Thursday morning to bring in staff from Somerset County into the Franklin County Regional Communications Center to assist over the next couple of weeks. CL Folsom, the communications director for Franklin County, is out...
Linn County E-911 Center open
The new Linn County E-911 Center is now open. The center, located at 110 W. Ira St., in Marceline is in the old Saint Francis Hospital and includes communications operations, meeting rooms, kitchen, dispatch center, sleeping rooms for dispatchers and a full kitchen....
‘York County keeps getting lucky’: Delayed 911 dispatches just part of long string of problems
On a recent night when an earthquake rattled York County, prompting calls to 911, Dover Township firefighters overheard dispatchers sending police to a reported house explosion with fire in their coverage area. Nine volunteers at the firehouse jumped up, put...
Edinburg dispatchers use new technology to video chat 911 callers
When someone calls 911 they are often in distress and may have difficulty describing what is happening around them, but the Edinburg Police Department is hoping to change that by using new technology that makes it easier for dispatchers to communicate.
911 Dispatcher Meets Mom She Helped Save in Flood
After a mother made a frantic 911 call while trapped inside a sinking vehicle with her 5-month-old child in Houston, she is finally meeting the woman who helped save her. As Tropical Storm Imelda inundated Houston, 19-year-old Rachel Cangemi and her baby slid into a...
9-1-1 Emergency phone lines down in Campbell County
Campbell County officials have confirmed that their emergency 911 phone lines have been restored to those previously affected by the outage.
Assault witness ‘deeply disturbed’ by 911 dispatch response
Portland — A man who witnessed an unprovoked attack on another man in Southwest Portland said he had to beg a dispatcher to send help. This link will take you to the audio of that call. It is well worth listening to. The question I have is was this dispatcher simply...
CHP dispatcher’s heartfelt message for officer father during final sign-off
A California Highway Patrol officer in Chowchilla signed off for the last time Tuesday and it was truly a family affair.
Gasconade County to take over Osage County 911 dispatch services effective today
At an emergency meeting Wednesday night, the Osage Ambulance District Board of Directors voted unanimously to have the Gasconade County 911 Center handle its dispatching after the ambulance director said he had serious concerns about the services currently being...
Bristol dispatcher receives state award for saving life
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A Bristol dispatcher has been recognized by the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security for taking measures that ultimately saved a woman’s life, a city news release states. The award stems from an emergency call she answered in March...
Texting 9-1-1 now allowed when calling not possible
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — The New River Valley Emergency Communication Authority (NRV911) introduced another way for the community to reach out for help. The NRV911 which receives 9-11 calls can now accept 9-1-1 text messages. Individuals who cannot safely make...
City of Albany Asked to Drop Residency Requirement for 911 Dispatchers
The Albany Police Officers Union wants Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Common Council to do away with a requirement that the city's 911 dispatchers live in the city of Albany. A situation the union says has led to a dangerous shortage. The budget calls for 39 dispatchers, but...
Award recognizes Bristol, Tenn. dispatcher for quick actions, persistence in lifesaving 911 call
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL)- Officials said it was a Bristol, Tennessee dispatcher’s quick action and persistence in a 2018 9-1-1 call that ultimately helped save a woman’s life. Jessica Donihe is a four-year veteran of the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department. Donihe...
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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
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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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