911Trainer.com

February 16, 2010 ~ February 28, 2010

Dane County 911 Center Board; county leaders disagree: February 16, 2010
Dane County, WI - New technology ready at the Dane County 911 Center is raising controversy between city of Madison and county leaders. It started out as a simple announcement at a press conference Tuesday morning. Dane County leaders presented the results of a February 2009 audit, designed to improve the 911...

City, county reach deal to combine 911 services: February 16, 2010
Fort Wayne, IN - The often-contentious push to merge city and county emergency communications departments appears to be coming to a successful - if behind-schedule - conclusion. Under a draft of an agreement between the city and county, an independent Multiple Agency Communications Partnership would be established, with the authority to buy equipment...

State board begins disbursing millions to local 911 districts: February 16, 2010
Nashville, TN - The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (Board) has begun disbursing what will be almost $10 million annually in additional funding to local emergency communications districts (ECDs) for dispatcher training and 911 operations. Tennessee's 100 ECDs provide or...

County's new enhanced 911 system switched on Tuesday: February 16, 2010
Marshall, MO - There were more than 20 people in and out of the Saline County E911 Dispatch Center's dispatch room Tuesday morning, Feb. 16, and most chatted quietly among themselves, trying to pass the time as they waited for the center to receive its first emergency call. Although the center dispatched its first vehicle, an ambulance, within about a half an hour of when...

Committee passes bill to require more training for 911...: February 16, 2010
Tallahassee, FL - Emergency 911 operators would have to undergo increased training under legislation approved by a State House Committee this morning in Tallahassee. The legislation was inspired by the death of Denise Amber Lee, a Sarasota woman kidnapped and murdered in 2008. Lee was abducted in January 2008, but was able to use her...

Sheriff's Altadena Station gets $1.3 million for improvements: February 16, 2010
Pasadena, CA - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved $1.3 million in renovations for the sheriff's Altadena Station on Tuesday. The renovations would add a dispatch center and security fences to the Altadena Drive station, which was built in 1947. For years, officials hoped to build a new sheriff's station to replace it - but the $30 million necessary...

Madison, Dane County At Odds Over 911 Technology: February 17, 2010
Madison, WI - The city of Madison is checking its options, including legal ones, to stop Dane County from introducing some new technology at its 911 Call Center that would create a new fee for the city.Dane County leaders said they are simply trying to follow a key recommendation of last year's 911 audit to install...

9-1-1 Dispatchers Use GPS to Track Cell Calls: February 17, 2010
Berkeley, MO - More than half of 9-1-1 calls come in from cell phones these days.  Without proper technology those calls for help could go unanswered. Dispatchers in Jefferson County, Missouri now have an easier time finding the location of cell phone callers thanks...

911 Board learns about wireless call projections: February 17, 2010
Benton, IL - Franklin County Joint Emergency Telephone System Board members reviewed information during Tuesday's regular meeting about projected call volume. Director Rick Basso read the total number of calls reported per PSAP, comparing the ratios of landline versus...

New 911 Call Center Causes Controversy in Ingham County: February 17, 2010
Ingham County, MI - When emergency strikes in Ingham County, your call goes to one of two places. However, that will soon change, when those two places consolidate to one. Ted Staton, East Lansing City Manager: "We started this endeavor 2 years ago with the goal of better service, lower costs." But Staton says he's concerned...

More training for North Port 911 center: February 17, 2010
North Port, FL - City police dispatchers will receive more training and be more closely monitored and graded in this city, under changes to the emergency call center prompted by a mishandled call late last year.The call was about a man lying beside a rural road; he remained there for 19 hours before his body...

Marsh urges 911 call centers to accept text messages: February 17, 2010
Murfreesboro, TN - A resolution moving through the Tennessee General Assembly urges local 911 call centers to accept text messages. House Joint Resolution 746, sponsored by Rep. Pat Marsh of Shelbyville, highlights the need for Tennessee's 911 system to receive a "digital upgrade." "We're pleased...

Altadena Sheriffs Station to get dispatch center...: February 17, 2010
Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized $1.3 million on Tuesday for improvements to the Altadena Sheriffs Station. The renovations would include reopening the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center so calls can be taken locally and deputies familiar with the area can be dispatched more quickly. Currently, the Crescenta...

Winchester, Indiana considers county-wide E911...: February 17, 2010
Winchester, IN -Winchester City Council Monday discussed the city's E-911 consolidation agreement. City Attorney Meeks Cockerill said the County Board of Commissioners, Friday approved a 1-year agreement to consolidate countywide emergency communications. The agreement is submitted...

911 ETC to Demo at National Education Show: February 18, 2010
TMCnet.com - Enhanced 911 or E911 is location-based technology that enables emergency responders to pinpoint the whereabouts of people in distress. This emerging technology is increasingly critical for businesses of all sizes as decision-makers continue to seek solutions to protect their most important assets - their people - while also balancing...

Tracy Residents Now Have To Pay For 911 Calls: February 18, 2010
Tracy, CA - Tracy residents will now have to pay every time they call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency. But there are a couple of options. Residents can pay a $48 voluntary fee for the year which allows them to call 9-1-1 as many times as necessary. Or, there's the option of not signing...

911 Dispatching Dispute Continues Between Madison...: February 18, 2010
Madison, WI - The chairman of Dane County's 911 Center oversight committee said that body lacks the authority to tell the county executive what to do, which means a 911 dispatching dispute between the county executive and Madison's mayor remains unresolved.The dispute between Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz continues a 911 Call Center controversy...

County creating backup 911 system: February 19, 2010
Carroll County, MD - The county is in the process of establishing a backup system and site after the Maryland Emergency Number System Board expressed concerns about its lack of an independent reserve system, said Scott Campbell, administrator of the Office of Public Safety Support...

911 merger needs time, Fries says: February 19, 2010
Fort Wayne, IN -Sheriff Ken Fries believes the latest plan to combine Fort Wayne and Allen County dispatch is workable but said it could be a year before a combined center is up and running. Fries gave an update on the tentative agreement to the Allen County Council on...

Sterling police receive new 9-1-1 system: February 19, 2010
Sterling, MI - The Sterling Heights Police Department will soon implement a new 9-1-1 phone system that will help emergency dispatchers handle calls faster and more efficiently. The city council approved the purchase of the nearly $250,000 AT&T and Positron Viper system during...

911 -- The Next Generation Comes to Tennessee and Putnam County: February 20, 2010
Putnam, TN - According to EMS Director Randy Porter, it's been in the works for several years.   "It's sort of analogous to the digital upgrade for televisions that we just went through.  Statewide, the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board has been planning for a much needed upgrade to the Tennessee 911 system for...

Delay granted on implementation of parts of new 911 system: February 21, 2010
Madison, WI -A Dane County judge ruled in favor Friday of a postponement of the implementation of certain parts of the 911 Center's newly introduced automated-attendant call handling system. Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas determined that though the system itself could be implemented...

911 call center creates expenses for E.L., Lansing: February 21, 2010
East Lansing, MI - A new joint 911 call center is being re-examined by the city of East Lansing. The contract for the new call center, which will consolidate the two current 911 centers into one, is being contested by city officials from East Lansing. City Manager Ted Staton said the city is upset...

County 911 takes over city dispatch March 1: February 22, 2010
Richmond, MO  - March 1 marks the official transition date for Richmond's dispatch and emergency 911 services to combine with Ray County 911. That will mean a few procedural changes and emergency preparedness details Richmond citizens should note now. As of that date, the Ray County Emergency 911 Center will...

Residents support reverse 911 call: February 22, 2010
Hickory, NC -The use of Reverse 911 alert to help find a missing man Wednesday was praised by Catawba County residents. The Hickory Police Department was criticized by many people for using the system during the search. Police reported a flood of complaints. Many people...

E-911 investigates system deficiencies: February 22, 2010
Sparta, TN - Members of the White County E-911 Board and E-911 Director Wayne Sherrell recently met with representatives from Motorola Inc., including a system engineer, to uncover the extent of deficiencies, and possible solutions, for the local 911 dispatching services. Dispatchers, and the tools they use, are the first in a long line...

Rock County 911 center aims to reduce abandoned calls: February 22, 2010
Janesville, WI - It's not nice when somebody hangs up on you. It's especially unpleasant when it happens 19.45 times every day. In 2009, the Rock County Communications Center's 911 dispatchers dealt with 7,101 hang-up calls. For nearly every call, an officer was dispatched to a scene where nothing was happening. "We've been watching them go up...

Location Based Services Grow Despite Challenges: February 23, 2010
TMCnet.com - Location based services are gaining in popularity as individuals throughout the world are using GPS and wireless based services to navigate points of interest, weather information, tracking field force and more. Such applications actually leverage the user's physical...

911 can't always locate cell phones:February 24, 2010
Buffalo, NY - You trust that your cell phone will work in an emergency, but there's something your phone can't do that could put your life at risk.Many people have come to rely on cell phones for a lot of things. In the event of an emergency, don't think you can dial 911 and the call taker will know exactly where you are...

Funds OK'd for 911 digital upgrade: February 24, 2010
Murfreesboro, TN - The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB) has voted to adopt a funding plan to connect local Emergency Communications Districts to the Next Generation 911 (NG 911) project. The plan will distribute $25 million to local emergency communications districts (ECDs) this year. "These funds will allow local...

Providence adopts E-911 ordinance: February 24, 2010
Providence, KY -An ordinate authorizing the city of Providence to collect a two dollar fee per telephone land-line wiith the"667" prefix passed on first reading at the Providence City Council's meeting Tuesday, Feb. 9. The ordinance, which also establishes an enhanced 911, or E-911 as it more commonly known, is the latest step...

911 board wants legal counsel to study consolidation: February 24, 2010
Wood River, IL - Officials with the Emergency System Telephone Board agreed to seek legal counsel on issues concerning the consolidation of Madison County's 911 systems.The board gave authorization to hire an attorney to look into legal issues concerning a consolidated 911 center. William Gamblin, 911 coordinator, said that because the ETSB...

County commissioners approve new tower site: February 24, 2010
El Dorado, KS - Plans for a new tower to support upgrades to Butler County's emergency communications system took a step forward Tuesday as county commissioners unanimously voted to approve the construction of a 400-foot tower on property near S.E. Cole Creek Road and S.E. 170th Street. "The nearest other tower that was structurally able to hold all the equipment was eight miles...

Support grows for merger of 911 centers: February 24, 2010
Utica, NY -The merger of the Utica and New Hartford 911 dispatch centers with that of Oneida County is closer to becoming a reality. The county has letters of support from New Hartford and Utica stating their desire to move forward with the consolidation...

Brown County Public Safety Committee to discuss 911 call merger...: February 25, 2010
Greenbay, WI - Brown County dispatchers would handle 911 calls made by Ashwaubenon residents under a proposed merger.A resolution on a proposed agreement will be discussed Tuesday at the Brown County Public Safety COmmittee meeting. Ashwaubenon Public Safety Director...

Work leads to 911 bid:  February 25, 2010
Pauls Valley, OK - Work behind the scenes has taken a long anticipated countywide 911 emergency telephone system to its next step in becoming a reality. That step came this week in the form of a single bid received to completely equip a new 911 call and dispatch center planned for the county system. Before the bid of more than $557,000 can be...

E-911 to revamp telephone system: February 25, 2010
Maury County, TN - Maury County E-911 has received funding to upgrade its phone system from analog to digital, a change that officials say will make it easier for them to respond to emergencies. Director Freddie Rich said the Maury County office has been allotted $277,337, which will allow it to purchase equipment needed to begin deploying Next Generation 911...

Agency Will Upgrade 911 Communications: February 26, 2010
Nashvillle, TN - The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB) has voted to adopt a funding plan to connect local Emergency Communications Districts to the Next Generation 911 (NG 911) project. The plan will distribute $25 million to local emergency communications districts (ECDs) this year, a TECB press release said. The funding plan will provide...

911 upgrade may increase load on dispatchers: February 26, 2010
Shelbyville, TN - Bedford County Communications Center director Cathy Mathis says that a new state program to upgrade all com centers to digital technology is a good thing, but it may also pose some challenges for centers to implement. "I think it's going to be a major learning curve," said Mathis. The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board...

CHP Cuts Down On 911 Wait Times: February 26, 2010
Sacramento, CA - or months, the California Highway Patrol has been under fire because of long wait times for people calling 911.On Friday, the CHP announced it has dramatically cut down on those waits -- answering nearly 94 percent of its 911 calls in 10 seconds or less during peak times last month.That compares to a timely response rate of less than 88 percent...

Cell phone surcharge would support 911 consolidation: February 26, 2010
Ilion, NY - Yes, Utica and New Hartford taxpayers would save money by consolidating Oneida County's three 911 dispatch centers. But the move would cost the county almost $900,000 a year. That's why leaders are considering a new 30-cent monthly...

City begins collecting new 911 taxes: February 27, 2010
Richmond, KY - The $2.67 tax increase on Richmond residents' landline phone bills implemented for funding the city's consolidated E-911 operation now are being received, according to an announcement made Tuesday by Richmond Finance Director Mike Broyles. The ordinance implementing a tax increase from 83 cents to $3.50 per month was passed by the Richmond City Commission on...

KITCOM dispatchers track 911 call, help locate missing man: February 27, 2010
South of Ellensburg, WA - A Yakima man who got lost in the Manastash Ridge area late Friday night is safe and sound Saturday, all thanks to the Kittitas County's 911 system. KITCOM has an enhanced 911 system that allowed them to pinpoint the caller's location, and a search that could have lasted days instead took hours. Kittitas County Sheriff's County...


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