Posts From External News Source
Adams County, Pa., Urged to Delay Public Safety Radio Purchase
August 17, 2011ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. — As Adams County negotiates buying a new digital radio system, a candidate running for commissioner said the current board should hold off on the $15 million to $30 million purchase. It’s a big chunk of change, said Paul Kellett. Plus, pending federal legislation could potentially pay for the whole project.
Read full articleNew Digital Radio System Lets Palm Beach Dispatchers Vocalize Info More Quickly
August 16, 2011PALM BEACH, Fla. — Gone are the old analog radios and scanners, available for years at Radio Shack. Palm Beach police now talk to each other on a digital telecommunications system called OpenSky, and Fire-Rescue will soon do the same. While some communities are feuding over its quality, Palm Beach is pleased with the OpenSky system’s performance, officials here said.
Read full articleWorcester Ramping Up System to Notify People of Emergencies
August 16, 2011WORCESTER, Ma. — The city has launched an electronic notification system to alert residents about emergencies and other critical community news. ALERTWorcester can notify signed-up residents about severe weather, unexpected road closures, utility problems, parking bans, fall leaf pick-ups, power outages, evacuations and other items of importance.
Read full articleMissouri 9-1-1 Center Deploys Smart911
August 16, 2011COLUMBIA COUNTY, Mo. — The Columbia and Boone County 911 center is the first in the state to use a “Smart911” system that provides personal and medical information about callers who register. The Public Safety Joint Communications Center began using the system Aug. 15.
Read full articleCupertino Responds to Civil Grand Jury Report on Emergency Services
August 16, 2011CUPERTINO, Calif. — The city of Cupertino has responded to three civil grand jury reports focusing on emergency dispatch, fire department response and the rehiring of pensioners. The reports were released in June.
Read full articleCity of Alamogordo (N.M.), County to Keep PSAPs
August 11, 2011ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Alamogordo City Commission reconsidered a proposal from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to resolve the PSAP consolidation issue, a point of contention between local officials and the state for nearly a decade.
Read full articlePower Outage in San Bernardino (Calif.) Temporarily Disables Emergency Communications
August 11, 2011SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A failed transformer knocked out power to 15,134 homes and businesses in and around the downtown area Wednesday, trapping people in elevators and temporarily shutting down emergency communication systems. People began calling 9-1-1 shortly before noon about the outage, but some of the calls didn’t come through right away, despite city departments having backup generators.
Read full articlePa. Dispatcher Coaches Man as Wife Gives Birth in Parking Lot
August 11, 2011GREENSBURG, Pa. — Bill Hazlett, an emergency services dispatcher for 14 years, received the call at about 6:15 a.m. from a “frantic” Rick Harmon. “He was very excited,” Hazlett said. “The baby was already on its way out.”
Read full articleKanawha (W.Va.) 9-1-1 Dispatcher Marks 30 Years on Call
August 10, 2011KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. — Kanawha County’s emergency dispatch system has undergone many changes over the past three decades, but one thing has remained the same. Toni Wallace has been at her station. Wallace, 53, of South Charleston began her career with the Montgomery Police Department in 1977. But in 1981 she moved to the Kanawha County Emergency Dispatch Center in the courthouse.
Read full articleOhio Shooting Rampage 9-1-1 Calls Released
August 10, 2011The shootings left eight dead, including the 11-year-old boy who sought shelter, and the gunman, identified by police as 51-year-old Michael Hance. Dispatchers on the calls are heard calming residents and urging them to protect themselves.
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