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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...
Text to 911: How Often It’s Being Used
Connecticut started with Text to 911 service just over a year ago, and officials say while there have been some growing pains, the new technology has already helped victims reach out for life-saving help in dangerous situations. In the first half of 2019,...
California to be First State Providing Mental Health Awareness Training for 911 Dispatchers
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Since the beginning of 2019, Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) has been working with the National Alliance on Mental Illness California (NAMI-CA) to push for better training on mental health identification for 911 dispatchers through AB 680....
Most County Residents Can Now Text 911
Most of Santa Clara County, save for a few cities, can now text 911 in an emergency if they are unable to call. "I am ever mindful that we live in a valley with a lot of people that need other ways of communicating with us besides just being able to dial 911 and speak...
Albany Mayor responds to CBS6 investigation into dispatcher shortage
ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) - CBS6 continues to investigate a staffing shortage among dispatchers answering your emergency calls in Albany. Albany Police Officers Union President Gregory McGee is calling the vacancies a public safety risk. This week, he sent a letter to Mayor...
Former dispatcher avoids prison
A former Custer County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher will spend 10 days in jail, but no time in prison, after pleading guilty to grand theft. Kelly Lynn Knight, 31, of Stanley, was granted a withheld judgment in the Custer County District Court case in Sept. 16...
Ex-Central Falls police dispatcher sues, alleging pervasive sexual harassment
PROVIDENCE — A former dispatcher for the Central Falls Police Department is alleging rampant sexual harassment and mistreatment by officers in a lawsuit in federal court. In the suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Kelly Baxter tells of being subjected to crude...
Petersburg Police Dispatchers celebrate Christmas year-round in memory of co-worker
PETERSBURG, Va. — Sharron Edmonds-Leverette was known for starting her yearly Christmas Countdown on January 1. The 17-year veteran of the Petersburg Police Telecommunication Center was passionate about the holidays and any reason for celebration. Described as a...
RNC, MedicAlert Partner to Improve Interactions with Vulnerable People
The RNC is teaming up with the MedicAlert Foundation Canada to help front-line officers with their interactions with vulnerable people. MedicAlert Connect Protect gives officers 24/7 access to a registered subscriber’s emergency profile...
ACLU threatens lawsuit after city ignored rape of Nome 911 dispatcher
ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - The City of Nome is facing the threat of a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union following what the latter is calling systemic and decades-long indifference toward Alaska Native women, as exemplified in a 2017 case of sexual assault that...
Bristol dispatcher receives award for helping to save woman who tried to hang herself
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A dispatcher with the Bristol Tennessee Police Department received an award for taking measures which helped save the life of woman who had tried to hang herself. Jessica Donihe, who has been with the department for four years, was honored during the...
A 911 Dispatcher Dismissed a Report of Teenagers Beating a Homeless Man in Downtown Portland
When Gary Granger saw four teenagers kicking and beating a homeless man in downtown Portland on Aug. 31, he called the cops. It was almost midnight on a Saturday, and Granger, 60, was walking downtown, photographing nests of crows. He saw the four teenage boys...
City of Albany dealing with dispatcher shortage
ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) - "We're working them to the point of just breaking them," said Albany Police Officers Union President Greg McGee. McGee says the city's dispatchers are beyond tired, they're exhausted. "Some of these guys are working four or five doubles in a...
Text to 9-1-1 Now Available in Most Areas of Santa Clara County
The texting service is for emergencies only, when the caller has hearing and/or speech impairment or cannot safely call 9-1-1 WHAT: Text to 9-1-1 is a new option that will help those who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired, and anyone who feels unsafe...
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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