Chicomm Blog

In the world of public safety answering points (PSAPs), 911 communications professionals are considered the “first first responders.” They’re the first point of contact for 911 callers, they provide police, fire and other authorities with the information they need to help – and they do so while operating complex 911 telecommunications systems. So the qualifications for working in 911 communications cross over a number of different skill areas.

Having well-trained 911 staff with the right qualifications can literally mean the difference between life and death, and organizations around the country are working with the federal government to develop national training standards for dispatchers and supervisors.

While the specific requirements currently differ across states, municipalities and job functions, there are some universal job duties for working in 911 communications that all applicants should be able to perform.

Here, we’ll take a look at 3 of the top qualifications for working in 911 communications:

When an officer is in their vehicle, one of the most important things for them is to be able to stay updated and connected at all times. Unfortunately, for many departments, the in-vehicle experience is plagued with ever-changing signal strength, which can range from annoying to downright dangerous.

While this method does have some benefits (security, little user intervention needed, no dedicated hardware) it isn’t ideal for the modern police department, one that has officers equipped with multiple devices at all times. After all, laptops aren’t really designed to be routers, and using them as such can cause some major headaches - here’s why:

A decade ago, social media was largely thought of as something reserved for teenagers or college students. It was often regarded as silly or mindless (after all, how much do you really care that Steve bought a new shirt?) and wasn’t exactly high up on the list of technologies law enforcement would consider using.

Today, we know that those early ideas of social media are largely outdated. While millions of people still flock to Twitter or Facebook to share updates about their life, social networking is being used by thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country to better connect with the communities they serve. This can include posting live updates to a crime in progress (keeping citizens informed) or even showcasing the “behind the scenes” life of police officers (department transparency).

One of the latest social media technologies that is catching on is that of live video streaming. There are two main players in this market, Twitter’s Periscope and its rival, Meerkat. Using these smartphone applications, anyone can live stream video from their device and broadcast that video to anyone, anywhere in the world. This technology is quickly being adopted into the public safety sector, and for good reason, but as with any new technology, you always need to consider the pros and cons before fully adopting it into your strategy.

This past year has brought more attention to the technology and equipment that police officers use than ever before. With both public officials and the general population pushing for better technology, it is becoming a vital piece of any public safety strategy.

In response to this growth in demand, Motorola Solutions has launched a new body camera for police - the Si500 Video Speaker Microphone.

Is this new camera the right fit for you and your department? Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Si500!

If you had to choose a single profession or industry that relies on quality communication perhaps more than any other, you would be hard-pressed to select anything other than those in public safety or emergency medical services. That’s not to downplay how important communication is in industries like education or manufacturing (it is actually incredibly important), but police officers and EMS crews rely on communication to save lives.

Police officers on bicycles have become incredibly popular in urban environments across the country. They are seen at local festivals and events, but also maintain a presence throughout the city for a large portion of the year. This is due to the flexibility and efficiency of being on a bicycle – officers can maneuver through busy streets and traffic far easier than those in a car could, and also save a lot of money in the process (no gas needed for a bike!).

With the influx of two-wheel officers in our communities, it is essential to equip them with the proper communication tools needed to be just as responsive as they would be in a vehicle. The best solution for this is often two-way radio headsets.

Making your community a safer place is often the top priority for those in public safety. You feel a sense of personal and professional responsibility for those that live in your city, and you take your job of protecting and serving them very seriously.

Wireless cameras essentially allow a person who is walking alone at night in a dangerous area, to not be truly alone. These cameras can be viewed remotely and police officers or other public safety officials can keep “an eye in the sky” for any potential threats, therefore making them more proactive. If you are looking to improve public safety and have your city remain vigilant, here is quick overview of wireless camera technology.

In most cases, organizations rely on wireless technology to improve things like efficiency or communication. While these things are important to a business, they are actually mission-critical to those in public safety - meaning the difference between life and death.

The public relies on police and fire departments to be there when they need them. They lean on these agencies in the case of an emergency, and in everyday life. In order to best be prepared to be there for their communities, decision makers often employ various wireless technologies like two-way radios and develop intuitive dispatch centers to improve response times. 

Over time, the technologies available to those in public safety evolve in order to best meet their needs. As decision maker, it is important to stay on top of these trends to ensure your agency is always equipped and prepared with the latest technology (which is vital in mission critical communications). 

Your community depends on you. Sure, this may sound a bit dramatic at times, but the truth is that for those who work in the public safety sector or public works, this dependence is a very real thing – especially when an emergency arises.

Power outages, severe weather alerts, or even an issue with the water supply are considered community-sensitive events – meaning they impact an entire population at the same time. When these events occur, it is absolutely vital for those responsible for keeping the public safe or remedying the issue that they stay in constant contact, and their communications are dependable (regardless of the environment).

The future of 9-1-1 communications is changing. The things that worked in the past have been sufficient but thanks to innovation and technology, there are now new opportunities to enhance the dynamic between the person reporting a public safety incident and the responder mediating the conversation. Cell phones and wireless connectivity are shaping up to be great contributors to the next generation of 9-1-1 operations.

While it may not be extremely evident yet, the incorporation of these new technologies in 9-1-1 responding has been evolving as peoples’ wireless usage changes. Next Generation 911 (NG911), will be a primary contributor to the new landscape of emergency reporting and response. Next Generation 9-1-1 pushes for the incorporation of wireless communication solutions to enhance public safety operations.