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In chaotic Salina shooting where two cops died, officers struggled to talk by radio (NY)
Communications at the scene were hindered. Jensen and three other city cops were unable to talk by radio with the three Onondaga County sheriff’s deputies at the scene, according to the AG report. City police officials said they are revising their communications...
North Dakota 911 technology connects caller in South Dakota to emergency services in right state
Telephone technology in North Dakota is helping emergency dispatchers reroute 911 calls near the South Dakota border to the correct state, according to a group that oversees the program. READ FULL ARTICLE
GMU to help Fairfax County adopt AI tech for 911 call center |(VA)
Thanks to a grant of nearly $1 million, Fairfax County’s emergency response stands to capitalize on recent gains in artificial intelligence. The county’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) is partnering with George Mason University’s Center for...
Former Albany police dispatcher sues for discrimination (NY)
A former dispatcher for the Albany Police Department has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, claiming the department failed to address repeated instances of racially and sexually discriminatory harassment by a supervisor, according to court documents. READ FULL...
‘911 saved my life’: Cayman’s dispatchers celebrated
One dark day two years ago, Brooke Bodden tried to end it all, but with the timely intervention of her mother and the guidance of a 911 dispatcher, the 16-year-old was revived, granting her a new lease on life. “I was really, really grateful because obviously when all...
City discusses possibly consolidating Marietta police dispatch with Washington County 911 (OH)
Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden and Marietta Fire Chief C.W. Durham expressed concerns they have with the merger and its timeframe. READ FULL ARTICLE
La Vergne police may turn to outside help for 911 dispatch. On Tuesday, city leaders will consider employing contracted dispatchers to alleviate the lack of staff. (TN)
Within the past 13 years, there has only been one time that the La Vergne emergency communications center was fully staffed. Police said that did not last long. As of publication, the communications center only has seven people on staff. Additionally, there is a...
Palmer council restores funding for emergency communications center; kills independent inquiry into former city manager controversy (AK)
Palmer’s council voted to fully fund the city’s emergency services call center at its Nov. 26 meeting, bringing the center’s staff back to six dispatchers and READ FULL ARTICLE
Statewide deadline approaching for Arkansas 911 center consolidations
The consolidation of 911 dispatch centers across the state is quickly approaching a deadline. The Arkansas legislature passed the Public Safety Act of 2019 which mandates the 911 call centers receiving state funds shrink by over 30%. Specifically, the Arkansas 911...
How an Apple Watch alert helped Loveland dispatchers connect with plane crash survivor (CO)
An alert from an Apple Watch started a connection between the Loveland Emergency Communications Center at the Loveland Police Department to the sole survivor of a plane crash west of Loveland on Saturday. What followed was hours of a dedicated team working to get...
‘Game changer’: Nashville’s new 911 technology could improve response time officials say (TN)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) -New technology at Nashville’s Emergency Communications Center could help 911 callers get the response they need faster. Call takers can now hear and see what the 911 caller sees in real-time through a platform called .....
AI on call: George Mason and Fairfax County dial up emergency response (VA)
When you have a dire emergency you want help from wherever you can get it. Even if it’s from an AI voice assistant. George Mason University received a grant of nearly $1 million from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for enhancing emergency response,...
Inside one state’s effort to digitize 911 to improve public safety (AZ)
A year into its implementation of next generation 911, Arizona officials see promising improvements for public safety responses. The state’s Department of Administration has worked for the past several years to transition the state’s 911 system from a...
Lincoln Police investigating series of hoax emergency calls (NE)
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Lincoln Police Department is investigating a series of fictitious emergency calls involving false reports of fires across the city at several homes and an LPS high school. Over the past month, the 911 Emergency Communications Center has...
911 Outage Complicated By Failure (HI)
The public wasn’t notified about a 911 outage until about three hours after problems began because the Honolulu Police Department was struggling to come up with an alternate means of communication, officials said Monday. Police are investigating what caused the 911...
Change in law complicates 911 hiring (KY)
A change in state law approved earlier this year complicated hiring for 911 dispatch centers, and state 911 officials are hoping legislators will address the issue in the coming legislative session. READ FULL ARTICLE
“Heroes Behind Headset” author talks answering the call as a 911 dispatcher (WV)
She’s been a Fayette County 911 dispatcher and unsung hero for the past six years. When Bertha Blankenship took the call that her husband fell ill in 2022 it hit home and she decided to write a book about her dispatching experience. READ FULL ARTICLE
‘911 Guy’ looks to retire after 40 years of service with Dane County
Kevin Fisher has been a communicator with Dane County dispatch for 34 years. Fisher has worked in dispatch for so long people in the office and out in the community started calling him "911 guy" READ FULL ARTICLE
Next Gen 911 insiders say California hired inexperienced companies
After years of missed deadlines and documented safety issues surrounding the rollout of California’s Next Generation 911 system, project insiders are now speaking out, saying they feel compelled to warn the public about “major problems” with the years-long overhaul...
Oconee Co. dispatcher welcomed home following medical emergency abroad (SC)
The Oconee County community welcomed home a 911 dispatcher, who had suffered a medical emergency abroad. Members of community and Oconee County Sheriff’s Office lined up in Walhalla to greet Katie Johns as she was driven to her house. READ FULL ARTICLE
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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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