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OCCK is hiring for a dispatcher position
OCCK, Inc. is seeking a fulltime Dispatcher in the Transportation Department in the Salina location. This person will perform creating, scheduling, routing, dispatching, and will operate a wide variety of office and communication equipment including radio, telephone,...
“Suspect has been hit”: Listen to what dispatchers heard during gunfight in Spokane Valley
Friday morning just after 9am Spokane Valley Police got a call from dispatch that a man was pounding on the door of a business and was trying to get inside. A few minutes later dispatch got a call that the man was actively shooting. According to Spokane Police,...
911 dispatcher alleges Allegheny County fired her for reporting co-worker falling asleep on job
PITTSBURGH – A 911 dispatcher says she was fired in retaliation after reporting a co-worker who fell asleep on the job. Maureen Beaumont on June 28 accused Allegheny County Emergency Services of retaliation in a lawsuit filed in the Allegheny County Court of...
For 26 Minutes This Dispatcher Stayed on the Phone as Groups Raft Sank in the Mokelumne River
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY -- In an emergency, when every minute could be the difference between life and death, a dispatcher’s voice is the first thing many people hear. Four-year San Joaquin County sheriff’s dispatcher Matthew Sieperda was on the other end of a call from...
9-1-1 calls for 4 River Valley counties directed to Crawford County
RIVER VALLEY (KNWA) — The 9-1-1 system for Johnson, Pope, Logan and Franklin Counties is out of service. Service will resume tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 16. A specific time has yet to be determined. Rick Covert with Franklin County Emergency Management said issues began at...
New technology being used in a Limestone County 911 call center
Work on Roanoke's new, $15.7 million Emergency Communications Center is expected to be complete by the end of the year, according to E911 Center Manager, Sonya Roman. Work started on the 31,000-square-foot joint facility which will house both the City of Roanoke E911...
Dispatchers in Phoenix seek PTSD help, first responder status
Emergency service dispatchers in Phoenix are gearing up for a meeting with city officials in an attempt to shore up emergency funding for staff, new systems and therapy resources as nationally, dispatchers are awaiting a decision in Washington D.C. that could impact...
I feel like a hero; 9-year-old boy helps deliver baby sister thanks to 911 dispatcher
By: Haley Bull TAMPA, Fla. — A family in Tampa has a lot to celebrate — a new bundle of joy who made a surprise appearance and her 9-year-old brother who helped it happen. Princess Anntte Brantley's family says she was born on August 6, weighing 6 lb. 14 oz. "I see...
New Emergency Communications Center Nearly Done
Work on Roanoke's new, $15.7 million Emergency Communications Center is expected to be complete by the end of the year, according to E911 Center Manager, Sonya Roman. Work started on the 31,000-square-foot joint facility which will house both the City of Roanoke E911...
Updated methods of contacting 9-1-1 coming soon
DES MOINES — Everyone knows you can call 9-1-1. But, did you know you can text 9-1-1? Iowa is one of the few states that has updated its technology to texting. But with new funding, they want to take it a step further. The West Des Moines Public Safety Facility is one...
Ellsworth Fire Department wants you to know when to dial 9-1-1
ELLSWORTH, Maine — When you see trouble, one of the first things that pops into your head is likely to dial 9-1-1. The Ellsworth Fire Department is encouraging residents to make sure, however, they're experiencing an emergency worthy of a 9-1-1 call before picking up...
Delaware County Emergency Communications gets a much needed upgrade
MUNCIE, Ind. — Around $1 million dollars in upgrades through a federal and state grant will be coming to the Delaware County Emergency Dispatch Center, helping ensure that they stay online when residents call 911. The changes to the dispatch...
Allen Fiscal Court honors county 9-1-1 operators
SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) - The Allen Fiscal Court unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday honoring Telecommunications of the Scottsville Allen County 9-1-1. In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, the Scottsville Police Department said the telecommunicators were the...
New OH Dispatcher Standards Target Better Treatment
The state has a new requirement to all emergency dispatch centers across Ohio that is designed improve treatment for urgent medical calls. The Ohio Department of Administrative Services gave all dispatch centers a deadline of April 1 to either be emergency...
RCPD dispatcher uses teaching experience to help people in need
MANHATTAN, Kan. (KSNT) – A Manhattan woman who has worked in an inner-city school filled with violence is using that background to help people in need in Riley County. Ceaven Evens has worked as a Riley County dispatcher for two years. She’s one of the first people to...
Ravenna considers more full-time 911 dispatchers with possible addition of Randolph Twp.
In hopes of keeping the city dispatch center schedule sustainable, Ravenna Police Chief Jeffrey Wallis told City Council the department is considering eliminating part-time dispatching positions in favor of adding two new full-time positions. Wallis said that two...
Tactical Dispatch Team: Your Job on the Other Side of the Console
Tuesday, August 13, 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.Presenters: Jonathan Jones, Athens-Clarke County Police Department; Tyrell Morris, Orleans Parish Communications District
This session offered a unique look into tactical dispatch teams that respond with field units, as well as those that operate out of the center. Attendees were able to take lessons learned from the Athens-Clarke County 9-1-1 as they developed their team as well and those lessons learned when Orleans Parish utilized their team during Madi Gras.
What makes tactical dispatch different than our everyday operations? Tyrell Morris stated that tactical dispatchers operate with a specific task or operation in mind. This task may be water rescues during a flash flooding outbreak, high-risk warrant services, SWAT/SRT operations and other like operations. These teams take the special operation workload off the center’s floor, reducing the call load and tasks of the rest of the communications staff.
In the case of Jonathan Jones and Athens-Clarke County, their team deploys in a mobile command post to the field. There they are able to assist field units on the scene, in real-time through CJIS inquiries, information analysis and on-scene communications.
There can be some pushback from responders, but Jones and Morris recommend having a difficult conversation with those responders and getting them to understand your value and what you can offer during tactical situations.
Some takeaways from this session:
These teams are not for everyone. The emergency communications operators assigned to this program should be able to operate in adverse conditions, unlike the sometimes sterile communications center.
Have a policy in place. This policy should include things like the qualifications required to apply for the position, what the applications and review process are, and what constitutes disqualification and removal from the team.
Responders DO benefit by having a dedicated communications operator working only their incident.
Jones and Morris offer some material to assist centers that look to start their own team. This information can be located at http://tinyurl.com/tacticaldispatch
Covered by Zachary Dykes
New Ohio requirement mandates dispatchers be certified
VANDALIA, Ohio — The state has a new requirement to all emergency dispatch centers across Ohio that is designed to improve treatment for urgent medical calls. The Ohio Department of Administrative Services gave all dispatch centers a deadline of April 1 to either be...
Norfolk and Virginia Beach need to hire 911 dispatchers for call-to-answer times to go down
Officials for the 911 emergency services in both Norfolk and Virginia Beach are telling residents if they make a call for service and the line continues to ring, they’re placed on hold or are greeted by an answering machine, don’t hang up. Not only will the...
Wood County officials mull possible dispatcher changes
Maj. Reginald Patterson, chief of staff services with the State Police, said in an e-mailed statement that the agency was reviewing communications services, but not ready to publicly discuss it. ”The West Virginia State Police is in the process of reviewing four of...
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.
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