50 Years of Tradition Ends, Center Closes
As the run-up to the 1960 Olympic Winter Games, the Placer County (N. Calif.) sheriff decided to open a new communications center in Tahoe City to coordinate security operations. When the Games ended, the center continued on, serving not only the sheri…
NENA Tackles Social Networking by Dispatchers
In the wake of legal action over a Facebook posting by a Wisconsin dispatcher, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) has formed a group to study the use of social networking Web sites by dispatchers, both on and off-duty. West Allis (Wisc.)…
U.S. Senator Proposes Spectrum Hand-Over Bill
On its face, legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) would end a long debate over how to allocate 10 MHz of spectrum intended to create a nationwide, wireless, broadband network for public safety agencies. But Rockefeller’s pr…
Union Is Impatient With Contract Talks
The union representing Northwest Central Dispatch System (Ill.) dispatchers feels that its first-ever contract negotiations have bogged down in trivia, and one union official has said a strike is possible if talks don’t move forward next month. T…
Motorola Sells Unit, Preparing for Split-Up
Electronics giant Motorola has sold off a wireless equipment unit, a prelude to a split-up next year that could leave the public safety radio division as the company’s revenue leader. For decades Motorola’s various divisions maintained sign…
Court Rules If Officer Had Reliable Info
A Florida appeals court has ruled that a vehicle occupant can be prosecuted for drug charges after he was identified by a 911 caller who ultimately police could not locate and identify. The case emphasizes the real-time nature of dispatching and police…
NY Dispatcher Murdered on Street Corner
A New York City EMS dispatcher who was the subject of a complaint last year was shot to death on a street corner at 5 a.m. this morning. Jason Green, 32, was shot in the face, police say, and the so far a motive and suspect are unknown. Police reported…
NY Dispatcher Murdered on Street Corner
A New York City EMS dispatcher who was the subject of a complaint last year was shot to death on a street corner at 5 a.m. this morning. Jason Green, 32, was shot in the face, police say, and the so far a motive and suspect are unknown. Police reported…
Dispatchers Stage Sickout to Protest Cutbacks
A group of about 36 Los Angeles police dispatchers reported off on sick leave July 2nd, protesting the city’s plans to furlough and lay off civilian employees. Rarely have dispatchers walked off the job or staged a sick-out in the United States, …
Radio Transcript Provides Few Shooting Details
When a San Francisco regional transit police officer fired a single shot from his pistol, killing a patron on New Year’s Day 2009, there was barely a clue for the radio dispatcher that something significant had occurred. Johannes Mehserle resigne…