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Minneapolis officials eye whether certain 911 calls can be handled by someone other than the police
A 911 operator answers emergency calls at a Minneapolis dispatch center. Diverting 911 calls deemed less serious to other government agencies could allow police to focus on more urgent calls that demand immediate response. Read More...
Dorchester County is looking to hire fulltime 911 dispatcher positions
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office is looking to fill five fulltime 911 dispatch positions. They say they need to accommodate the growth of the county.
Broome Emergency Dispatchers May Get Shorter Shifts
The first person many Broome County residents talk to in an emergency situation could be less tired in the future under plans to return 911 dispatchers to a standard eight-hour day. Emergency Services officials have been working 12-hour shifts since 1999 when a lack...
Kootenai County dispatcher recognized for handling potentially dangerous call in exemplary fashion
COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho - One north Idaho emergency dispatcher is being recognized for her calm demeanor and ability to use protocols in the face of a potentially dangerous call. Jenny McMorris, who works for the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, got a call that...
Program to help 911 dispatchers comes to central Ohio
If you are in a situation where you need to call 911, chances are time is of the essence. “In times of an emergencies, a lot of times, you get frantic and your mind doesn't work in ways, and Smart911 gets that information to us so you don't have to,” said Adam Smith,...
North Charleston Police withdraws from reporting system designed to free up dispatchers for 911 …
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The North Charleston Police Department confirmed Thursday it had pulled out from an incident reporting system the Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch Center launched in November. The system lists active law enforcement calls by agency and...
Young Professionals Spotlight: Leslie Corbet, Guilford Metro 9-1-1
Leslie Corbett partakes in a ride-along with Climax Fire Department (NC) during her fire dispatch training.
The APCO Young Professionals Taskforce recognizes Leslie Corbett as our young professional for the month of September. Leslie is twenty-seven years old and has been an emergency communications specialist for one year with Guilford Metro 9-1-1, an agency located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Most of her career has been as a call taker, but recently she has moved into fire and law enforcement dispatching.
Leslie was nominated by her supervisor, despite having been with her agency for only a year, because she stands out from the crowd. She strives for high quality assurance scores, has been an ideal trainee—receptive to any and all feedback—and is said to always have a positive attitude. According to her supervisor, “Leslie displays the qualities we strive for in our employees.”
Leslie enjoyed a cake she received acknowledging her first save on the job.
The most enjoyable aspect of Leslie’s job is the sense of accomplishment she gets when helping those who need it. In her short time with Guilford Metro, she has helped save two lives by providing pre-arrival instructions during cardiac arrests. Then, during her shift on December 25, 2018, she was able to provide instructions for a patient which resulted in an out-of-hospital birth.
We asked Leslie what advice she would give as a young professional to others her age who are entering 9-1-1 careers. “Listen to your team, don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help,” she said. “Make sure to find a quiet moment for yourself amid the chaos. And when in doubt, send them out!” Leslie volunteers for public relations events to promote the profession, especially to younger generations. Youth has its benefits within the profession, Leslie explained: Young people grew up typing on computers, can deal with the long, grueling hours — especially those that run overnight — and they also tend to be ambitious and are eager to learn.
But why are 9-1-1 centers not getting more young people through the door? Leslie believes this is largely due to a lack of accessible information about the profession, including its benefits and rewards. Like many in the profession, Leslie agrees that burnout is a leading cause of attrition in the industry. “We initiate CPR, we talk people down off ledges, we help calm the storm, and a lot of that puts a toll on a telecommunicator.”
Despite the difficulties of the job, Leslie prides herself in bringing positivity and encouragement. She loves to remind her teammates that they are doing work worth doing. Her Nanna used to say, “Try not to stress, do your best, and always remember: never forget to shake the ketchup,” which helps Leslie smile through it all. Her cheerfulness lifts the spirits of those around her and she transmits joy—in the ECC, on the phone, and over the radio. Leslie Corbett is a great asset, not only for Guilford Metro 9-1-1, but for public safety and young professionals across the country.
Montgomery County 911 Call Centers Inundated with Non-Emergency Calls
Montgomery County officials want to remind everyone on behalf of both MCHD and the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management that 911 services should only be utilized in true emergencies. If you have a true medical emergency, if you have water coming into your...
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Wayne Co. 911 dispatcher helps with birth
LYONS — A Wayne County 911 dispatcher is being commended for helping with an out-of-hospital birth last weekend. Greg DeWolf, the county’s 911 operations manager, said a call to the 911 center came in at 12:40 a.m. Saturday from a person in Newark reporting that his...
Sheriffs office recognizes dispatcher for saving a life
BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office is recognizing a team member for saving a life. The sheriff’s office says a call came into their crisis hotline earlier this week from a person talking about committing suicide. Telecommunicator Patti...
St. Pete 911 dispatcher takes final call from police sergeant daughter
Her last role with the department was being a 911 call taker. She took her final call last night and it came from her daughter, who is a police sergeant.
Summit County faces shortage of dispatchers, reports exceeding overtime budget by 400 percent
PARK CITY (ABC4 News) – They are the voice you hear in your most urgent calls, trained to handle your emergencies. But the Summit County dispatchers are struggling to keep up, working up to 60 hours a week in an effort to make up for a shortage. Tanya Odenbach, the...
NC sheriff’s office dispatcher uses compassion to divert suicide attempt
Compassion. Telecommunicator Patti Yandle of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office is said to have shown “a tremendous amount of compassion” for a caller talking about committing suicide with a shotgun. Yandle was able to make contact with the person who called the...
Sheriffs office dispatcher uses compassion to divert suicide attempt
BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Compassion. Telecommunicator Patti Yandle of the Bladen County Sheriff's Office is said to have shown "a tremendous amount of compassion" for a caller talking about committing suicide with a shotgun. Yandle was able to make contact with...
Mediation to begin in contact talks between BCs E-Comm, emergency dispatchers
RICHMOND, B.C.—A mediator has been appointed as emergency dispatchers try to reach a new contract with their employer, E-Comm Emergency Communications for British Columbia. More than 500 emergency dispatchers, call takers and support staff are members of CUPE Local...
911 dispatchers begin mediated contract talks
A mediator has been appointed as 911 dispatchers responsible for taking calls from the Peace region try to reach a new contract with their employer, E-Comm Emergency Communications for British Columbia. More than 500 emergency dispatchers, call takers and support...
911 dispatcher coaches man through delivery of friends baby at Newark home
LYONS, N.Y. (WHAM) - A 911 dispatcher in Wayne County helped a man in Newark deliver his friend's baby early Saturday morning. Dispatcher Paul Fera works at the Wayne County 911 Center in Lyons. He received a call around 12:40 a.m. from a man who said his friend was...
State 911 director focused on dispatchers
Like other public safety entities, the mental and emotional health of 911 dispatchers is becoming more and more of a priority for industry leaders. “The State of Indiana has invested a lot of money in the technical part of this and we’re now starting to push a...
Lincoln dispatch debuts new technology designed to find 9-1-1 callers
There's a seamless partnership of those on the front line and those behind the phones. Just a matter of seconds can change a life. A new computer system called Rapid SOS is significantly cutting down that response time.
Abilene PD looking to hire more dispatchers
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Potential career opportunities are available at the Abilene Police Department for telecommunicators. The dispatch department is currently operating with only about 30 people including supervisors, which Communications Manager Becky...
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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.
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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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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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