COMMUNICATOR

Dane County's Department of Public Safety Communications in Madison, Wisconsin,
has professional positions for emergency dispatch personnel to receive and
dispatch requests for 85 law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. 
Communicators process over 600,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually
and operate complex communications equipment.  Successful candidates will be
placed on an eligibles list to become part of Dane County's 9-1-1 public safety
dispatch system.  Requires high school graduation and demonstrated ability to
multi-task.  Experience dispatching law enforcement, fire and/or emergency
medical services is desirable.  Must be able to type neatly and accurately and
analyze and react quickly and effectively to stressful emergency communications
situations.  Must be available to work any shift, including evenings, weekends,
holidays and during severe weather conditions.  Must be able to pass background
investigations, including fingerprinting.   After employment, must maintain
current Wisconsin TIME System Advanced and National Academy of Emergency
Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch-Advanced and Emergency Fire Dispatch
certifications.   Starting hourly wage is $19.77 with further merit increases to
$21.71, longevity pay of 3% to 12% of base salary and excellent benefits. 
Anticipated exam process:  1) Candidates must complete and submit an official
Dane County Public Safety Communications Application for Employment and the
Communicator Achievement History Questionnaire by the deadline below. 2) A
three-hour computerized exam series that includes a pass/fail data entry exam is
tentatively scheduled for Saturday, January 9, 2010.

Recruitment ends:  4:30 p.m., Friday, December 11, 2009.  The completed
application and exam must be received by the Employee Relations Division by the
deadline to be considered further. For application materials contact:  Dane
County Employee Relations, Room 418, City-County Building, Madison, Wisconsin,
53703, (608) 266-4123.  For those with TDD equipment only, call (608) 266-4125. 
You may also access the application and achievement history questionnaire 
through the Dane County homepage on the Internet at:  www.co.dane.wi.us.  
Interested individuals must file a completed official Dane County PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATION FOR COMMUNICATOR form and the Communicator
Achievement History Questionnaire.  An Affirmative Action Employer operating
under a Civil Service Merit System.

Hi Friends,

You know we don't believe in SPAM e-mails or bombarding you with messages. The holidays are approaching and NOW is the time to start shopping. We have a great bunch of new items.

They include a "snuggy like" blanket with a beautiful embroidered patch.
New Mugs, new water bottles, anti-stress items, a new cook book and other GREAT items.
Get the lowest prices of the season now.

We also have our popular desk calendar, pocket calendar and an ALL NEW 2010 WALL Calendar (it includes all of the national conference dates and legal holidays) it is a MUST have for all dispatch centers.

You can shop now at www.911cares.com (click on SHOP NOW)
OR view our new items by visiting
http://911cares.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=9C&Category_Code=NEW

Thanks everyone - remember, the proceeds from these sales go to help dispatch families in need. Help us, help your brothers and sisters of the headset.

Kevin and the team at 911 CARES
650-595-5202 We're open from 7:30am-4pm daily CA time.

We have an opening for Shift Supervisor at Amarillo Emergency Communications
Center.  Details on the position and instructions on applying can be found at:

https://careers.amarillo.gov/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?p\
ostingId=137516

Have a great day!

Judith Weshinskey-Price, RPL
Manager
Amarillo Emergency Communcations Center

Please forward to all PSAPs.



Dear NENA Chapter President/State 9-1-1 Leader:



About 6-9 months ago I informally asked for, and received, general information
on broadband usage by PSAPs in your state.  The information was very helpful.  I
am back for more info.  We have created an online survey this time which we hope
will make the task a bit easier for folks to deal with.  Please share this
request with all state, regional, and local 9-1-1 Coordinators and PSAP Managers
and strongly encourage them to respond to this survey on fixed and mobile
broadband availability and usage by PSAPs and other emergency service agencies.



The information obtained from the survey will greatly assist NENA in a variety
of ways, including policy advocacy with Congress, the FCC and other federal
agencies. Please encourage PSAP managers/administrators in your state to take
the time to respond to this anonymous survey before November 6th if possible. 
Questions can be directed to me.



Click here to take the survey
(http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Grv4NQGFr_2fdst3_2f9swWyew_3d_3d).



Thank you.



Patrick Halley

Government Affairs Director

------------------------------------------------------------

National Emergency Number Association

4350 N Fairfax Dr., Suite 750

Arlington, VA 22203

800.332.3911 (Main)

202.466.4911 (Direct)

703.812.4675 (Fax)

www.nena.org

DATA BASE COORDINATOR

Dane County's Department of Public Safety Communications is seeking an
individual to be responsible for planning, developing, implementing, maintaining
and evaluating the Public Safety Communication's electronic data processing
systems including their interfaces with State of Wisconsin systems, other County
systems, users and the County's Information Management Division. Requires any
combination of training and experience equivalent to an associate degree in
Information Management and one year of professional experience working with and
supporting standard commercial software. Background investigations, including
fingerprinting, will be part of the final selection process. Normal work hours
are 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., some irregular hours may be required. Starting
hourly wage is $19.78 with further merit increases to $21.77, longevity pay of
3% to 12% of base salary and excellent benefits. Anticipated Exam: Achievement
history questionnaire to be submitted with application form.

NOTE: There are two documents that must be submitted by the deadline: 1) the
Public Safety Communications Application and 2) the PSC Database Coordinator
Achievement History Questionnaire.

The special application for this position can be found in the Internet site
www.co.dane.wi.us. Go to the Employment Opportunities page and click on the link
"Application and Examinations." To download the application, scroll down to
"Special Applications" and click on the "Public Safety Communications
Application." The achievement history questionnaire can also be found under
"Applications and Examinations." To download this document, please scroll down
to "Examinations" and click on the "PSC Database Coordinator – Achievement
History Questionnaire."

Recruitment ends at 4:30 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2009. Completed Public Safety
Communications Application and achievement history questionnaire must be
submitted by the deadline. Late application and exams will not be considered.
For application materials contact: Dane County Employee Relations Office, Room
418, City-County Building, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703, 608/266-4123, and for
those with TDD equipment: 608/266-4125, or through the Dane County home page on
the Internet at: www.co.dane.wi.us. An Affirmative Action Employer operating
under a Civil Service Merit System.

We have some great new breast cancer awareness shirts, lanyards, a new book bag and a couple GREAT sale items.

We don't reduce shipping prices often so please go shopping between now and Sunday to get great pricing.

www.911cares.com

It's a great idea to do a "group order" for your whole shift or friends.

Happy shopping - remember the proceeds from our sales go right back to dispatchers in need!

Dispatcher in Quincy, MA loses home to fire and he is the one answering 9-1-1!

Note from 911 CARES Please read the activation below. About 6 of you around the nation sent us e-mails to help Mike out. We just (Friday at 5pm east coast time) spoke with Mike. The police department took up a collection and he has enough clothes. He just got a temporary apartment for he and his parents. They needs anything for a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom that anyone would need as they start fresh. The loss of his and his parents items was 100%. See below for the address that items can be mailed or UPS'd to. This is what 911 CARES is all about. When we called him a few minutes ago, he was a typical dispatcher. "Ya, I know about you guys – I support you!" when we asked why he hadn't contacted us for help, it was another common response… "well, it's been kinda crazy at work and I had to make sure my parents were okay"

(CNN) -- From baby deliveries to unexpected deaths, Mike Bowes, a 911 dispatcher from Quincy, Massachusetts, has handled a wide range of emergency calls. But Monday night, the 44-year-old received an unexpected call from his neighbor: His own house was on fire. The 911 call came in about 10:45 p.m. Monday, a little more than an hour before Mike Bowes' shift ended. My neighbor's house just blew up, the caller said. "What's the address?" Mike Bowes asked patiently, just as he did with every emergency call for the past 11 years with the Quincy Police Department. The caller frantically relayed the address, Bowes' home address for 20 years.

"It was shocking," Mike Bowes said. "I thought she was kidding. It's a long shot. I mean, what's the chances it will be your house?" Thoughts raced through his mind: Are my parents OK? Are the neighbors safe? What about my stuff? Following procedure, Mike Bowes transferred the call to the fire department. Soon, dozens of calls about the fire from other neighbors began to pour into the control room. One of the callers was his mother, Elizabeth Bowes, 68. She and her husband, Donald Bowes, 72, had escaped unharmed.

About 10:45 p.m., Elizabeth Bowes was reading a novel in the kitchen when she heard the explosion and saw flames shoot through the kitchen window. She ran to wake her husband in a first-floor bedroom.

Within five minutes of receiving the call, police escorted Mike Bowes to his home. He could see the fire light up the dark sky from afar. Anxious neighbors gathered in the park nearby. He was relieved to find his parents together on the sidewalk. "My parents are alive; my neighbors are alive," he said. "It's an inconvenience, but we'll get through it."

Everything -- the clothes, electronics and furniture -- were destroyed. No one was injured in the fire, and firefighters have yet to determine what caused the blaze. They say it started in the garage, about 15 feet from the home. Mike Bowes says his job prepared him to deal with the challenging circumstances. Bowes and his family are living in a hotel, and local police officers and firefighters have donated clothes and money.

"A lot of people think dispatchers are strange because I've been joking about what happened," he said. "I say, 'If I'm not laughing, I'll start crying.' This is what I have to do."

You can watch a video of Mike and the fire via CNN at the following link:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/29/Massachusetts.911.dispatcher.fire/index.html#cnnSTCText

Want to send Mike's family a Wal-Mart or Target gift card?  Just think what you might need if you are starting fresh. Checks can be made out to Mike Bowes fund. Mail them to the PD and the Police Association has set up a special fund. As for items, think towels, cook ware, kitchen items, etc but honestly the best thing is probably gift cards. 911 CARES will be doing our part also!

Send items to
Quincy Police
Mike Bowes
1 Sea Street
Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: (617) 479-1212

Please respond directly to Melissa at   melissa@...

This is the show she produces: 
http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/call-911/call-911.html

-----Original Message-----
From: Melissa McCarty [mailto:melissa@...]
Subject: Call 911

Hi Kelly --

I hope you're doing well and had a great summer.  Call 911 is still looking for
calls but now we're also looking for calls that originated with OnStar.

Has your department ever received any calls that originated with OnStar?  We
have done a few episodes that feature OnStar and there is a chance to do more.

If not, do you know of another department that you think I should contact?

Thanks so much.


Sincerely,

Melissa McCarty
Associate Producer
"Call 911"

Just in case anyone is interested or knows someone who might be!

Go to:

https://careers.amarillo.gov/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=137106

Judith Weshinskey-Price
Emergency Communications Manager
Amarillo Emergency Communicaitons Center

I am humbly honored and gratefully indebted to my professional colleagues in the
9-1-1 industry from dispatchers to directors, from vendors to the media for
wanting to purchase my book about this awesome career!

"9-1-1, Who will answer your call?" is the phenomenally written, tell-tale book
about what YOU do for a living. It has funny calls, cool calls, behind the
scenes laughs, silly deputy stories and corrections incidents.

People have asked me for years to write a book and I have seen it come to
fruition.

Please consider giving this book to someone you love who would love
understanding what it is you really do!! :)

Thank you from the bottom of my toes,
Kelly R. Rasmussen
Order here:
http://www.successcommunicationsinc.com/
   or
http://www.omnibookpublishing.com/24-9-1-1-who-will-answer-your-call.html

Kevin, where may I send your copy of my new book! It's finally published and is
receiving huge reviews. We've been selected to do a Television News Promo for
Inside Business! You've got to read it! Help me find you and an address for YOU!
Kelly R. Rasmussen

CAD Analyst

The Dane County Public Safety Communications Department is seeking an individual
to provide support for the configuration, operation, upgrade and maintenance of
Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems, mapping, mobile messaging, vehicle
location, station printing, priority dispatch, TIME and records interface,
E9-1-1 telephone and related systems; and to perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum requirements are: any combination of training and experience equivalent
to an associate degree in Systems Administration or five years experience
working in information management systems for an employer of comparable size and
scope to this department. Preference will be given for work in a communications
center environment and for one year of professional experience working with and
supporting standard commercial software.

Background investigation, including fingerprinting, will be part of the final
selection process.

Normal work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; however,
some irregular hours, including weekends, may be required.

Starting hourly wage is $19.78 with further merit increases to $21.77, longevity
pay of 3% to 12% of base salary and excellent benefits. Anticipated exam:
achievement history questionnaire to be submitted with the official Dane County
application for employment.


Recruitment ends 4:30 p.m., Friday, August 28, 2009.

Application materials (including the completed achievement history
questionnaire) must be submitted by the closing date above. An application
postmarked by the closing date, but not received in the Employee Relations
Division will not be considered as being filed in a timely manner. For
application materials contact: Dane County Employee Relations, Room 418,
City-County Building, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703, 608-266-4123, TDD users may
call (608) 266-4125. You may obtain materials thorough the Dane County homepage:
www.co.dane.wi.us. An Affirmative Action employer operating under a Civil
Service Merit System.

If you have specific questions about this position or the organization please
contact Support Services Manager Paul Logan at logan@... or at
608-283-2914. You may also visit the department's website at www.dane911.com

This tragic loss occurred this past Sunday, July 19^th. The Sheriff's office is still searching for the body and the agency has asked for cards, prayers and checks that will be used ONLY for funeral costs that are uncovered by insurance and for a college fund for the family. Please do what you can, this is a very special dispatcher and an agency in crisis after the loss described below. Make checks payable to the Rasmussen family fund and mail them to the Davis Police department – their address is listed below. Direct inquiries can be e-mailed to Jennifer, one of the Davis 9-1-1 Supervisors. JCandelo@...

Sunday, July 19^th, one of our dispatcher's husband died in a tragic drowning accident at Lake Berryessa. 

Jennifer Rasmussen, a 6 year dispatcher, Communications Trainer and Tactical Dispatcher with the Davis Police Department, tragically lost her husband, Clint Rasmussen, in a drowning accident at Lake Berryessa Sunday, July 19th.  The family was on their new boat for the first time when her husband jumped in the water.  It is believed he hit his head on the boat, and did not resurface.  She dove in to try and save him, but could not pull him up.  Both children, Clint Jr (11yrs) and Courtney (9 yrs) were on the boat at the time.  As of this email, his body has not been recovered.   He did not have life insurance.

"Razzy" as we call her, is an amazing and dedicated employee, whose always giving to others in time of need.  She was the recipient of the Dispatcher Of The Year award in 2007.  We love her and her family, and are just coming to grips with this loss.

While we are still in the process of setting up the needs of the family, we ask that any/all cards/letters/checks be sent to the PD: 
Davis PD  c/o Dispatch  2600 5th, Davis CA 95618. We are in the process of setting up a trust account/college fund for the kids, or seeing if they need assistance with funeral costs.

Thank you in advance

Jennifer Candelo

Dispatch Supervisor

Davis PD

We will be sending out a mass e-maillater but we wanted to give you, the 911
CARES yahoogroup get a jump start on our summer sale. We have almost all of our
t-shirts, mugs and other neat stuff on sale.

Check it out at www.911cares.com
click on shopping and then on the left SALE button.

We also want to remind you to view the 911 CARES activations and see who you
might want to send a card, letter or prayer to.

Last, for those of you in training or management, we are offering a SALE on
911onDVD products. Get $50 off on any 911onDVD order by using discount code NENA
at check out. This is only available at www.911onDVD.com

Have a GREAT DAY
The team at 911 CARES
650-595-5202

The WI-NENA conference is coming up October 25th to 28th at the Kalahari Resort
in Wisconsin Dells so start making plans.  The Pre-Conference sessions are
excellent and registration for those is open now.  Full Conference registration
is also open and details may be found at:

http://winena.org/2009%20WI-NENA%20Conference/2009ConferenceOverview.html

--- In 911CARES@yahoogroups.com, "kelleygruca" <kelcea7@...> wrote:
>
> Good Morning--
> I am now retired from a PD in Arizona, but we didn't at the time when I left. 
You could work up to 16 or more hours and be back on your shift, but they really
did their best to give you 8 off.

>   Ref work hours... I am from PD Aurora, Il, 17 years..wow,seems like
yesterday..anyway, we work standard 8 hour shift, with up to 8 hours voluntary
overtime or forced overtime, depending on vacations and sick calls.  We can not
work more than 16 hours at a time and we must have 8 hours off after a 16 hour
shift before we can work again. We have this built into our union contract.
There are currently 27 of us, we each average 2-3 shifts of overtime a week.
> Kelley
>
>
> - In 911CARES@yahoogroups.com, "wrfd105" <kzenz@> wrote:
> >
> > Please reply to Steve at  mccool.steven@
> >
> >
> > Good afternoon everyone,
> >
> > Do you folks have anything in writing that your staff must have a certain
number of hours of rest before a shift, between shifts or how many hours they
can work? I am open to any feedback you may have. Thanks!
> >
> > Steven McCool, EMD/EMT-B/NAACS
> > Emergency Communication Center Supervisor
> > Mayo Clinic Medical Transport
> > Office Phone: 507-255-2988
> > ECC Phone: 507-255-2808
> > E-Mail: mccool.steven@
> > Accredited Center of Excellence (EMD)
> > Mayo Clinic
> > 1216 2nd St SW
> > Rochester, MN 55902
> >
>

Good Morning--

   Ref work hours... I am from PD Aurora, Il, 17 years..wow,seems like
yesterday..anyway, we work standard 8 hour shift, with up to 8 hours voluntary
overtime or forced overtime, depending on vacations and sick calls.  We can not
work more than 16 hours at a time and we must have 8 hours off after a 16 hour
shift before we can work again. We have this built into our union contract.
There are currently 27 of us, we each average 2-3 shifts of overtime a week.
Kelley


- In 911CARES@yahoogroups.com, "wrfd105" <kzenz@...> wrote:
>
> Please reply to Steve at  mccool.steven@...
>
>
> Good afternoon everyone,
>
> Do you folks have anything in writing that your staff must have a certain
number of hours of rest before a shift, between shifts or how many hours they
can work? I am open to any feedback you may have. Thanks!
>
> Steven McCool, EMD/EMT-B/NAACS
> Emergency Communication Center Supervisor
> Mayo Clinic Medical Transport
> Office Phone: 507-255-2988
> ECC Phone: 507-255-2808
> E-Mail: mccool.steven@...
> Accredited Center of Excellence (EMD)
> Mayo Clinic
> 1216 2nd St SW
> Rochester, MN 55902
>

Please reply to Steve at  mccool.steven@...


Good afternoon everyone,

Do you folks have anything in writing that your staff must have a certain number
of hours of rest before a shift, between shifts or how many hours they can work?
I am open to any feedback you may have. Thanks!

Steven McCool, EMD/EMT-B/NAACS
Emergency Communication Center Supervisor
Mayo Clinic Medical Transport
Office Phone: 507-255-2988
ECC Phone: 507-255-2808
E-Mail: mccool.steven@...
Accredited Center of Excellence (EMD)
Mayo Clinic
1216 2nd St SW
Rochester, MN 55902

Watch Call 911 starting this Friday at 8:00 (Eastern time) with a two program
season premiere featuring a standoff in Wisconsin.

http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/call-911/call-911.html

Call 911
Wisconsin Standoff- Part 1
TV-PG

Police, SWAT Teams navigate through a bizarre 15-hr standoff with a man who just
shot a neighbor. The man agrees to negotiate only during commercials of his
favorite TV shows - and reveals that his mother is in his basement freezer.

We are looking for your knowledge and expertise at our WI-NENA Conference coming
up the end of October 2009.  If you have a presentation that you would like to
give please cut/paste the link below and I hope to see you here in October.

http://wipscom.org/2009%20WI-NENA%20Conference/callforpresenters.html


Kelly D. Zenz
WI-NENA 2nd Vice President

COMMUNICATOR


Dane County's Department of Public Safety Communications in Madison,
Wisconsin, has professional positions for emergency dispatch
personnel to receive and dispatch requests for 85 law enforcement,
fire and emergency medical services.  Communicators answer over
600,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually and operate
complex communications equipment.  Successful candidates will be
placed on an eligibles list to become part of Dane County's 9-1-1
public safety dispatch system.  Requires any combination of training
and experience equivalent to high school graduation and a minimum of
six months experience operating two-way radio equipment, performing
data entry or high-volume telephone answering including significant
public contact.  Experience dispatching law enforcement, fire and/or
emergency medical services is preferred.  Must be able to type neatly
and accurately and analyze and react quickly and effectively to
stressful emergency communications situations.  Must be available to
work evenings, weekends, holidays and during severe weather
conditions.  Must be able to pass background investigations,
including fingerprinting.   After employment, must maintain current
Wisconsin TIME System Advanced and National Academy of Emergency
Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch-Advanced and Emergency Fire
Dispatch certifications.   Starting hourly wage is $20.38  (effective
June 21, 2009) with further merit increases to $22.38, longevity pay
of 3% to 12% of base salary and excellent benefits.  Anticipated exam
process:  1) Candidates must complete and submit an official Dane
County Public Safety Communications Application for Employment,
attaching their  answers to the Achievement History Questionnaire
(page 9 of the application); 2) Candidates will listen to and record
requests for help and alpha-numeric combinations (tentatively
scheduled for  March 28, 2009); 3) Candidates must pass a data entry
examination (minimum 6,000 net keystrokes per hour) (tentatively
scheduled for the week of April 13); 4) those candidates who advance
to this stage of the recruitment will be given a personality/stress
test. The anticipated hire date for selected candidates from this
recruitment is September 14, 2009.



Recruitment ends  4:30 p.m., Friday, March 6, 2009.  Application
materials (including the completed Achievement History Questionnaire)
must be submitted by the closing date above.  An application
postmarked by the closing date, but not received in the Employee
Relations Division will not be considered as being filed in a timely
manner .For application materials contact:  Dane County Employee
Relations, Room 418, City-County Building, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703,
(608) 266-4123.  For those with TDD equipment only, call (608) 266-
4529.  You may also access the application and information through
the Dane County homepage on the Internet at:  www.co.dane.wi.us.
Interested individuals must file a completed official Dane County
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATION.  An Affirmative Action
Employer operating under a Civil Service merit system.

The 2009 Ohio APCO/NENA Sate Conference will be held in Worthington
Ohio March 22nd through March 25th  Take advantage of the early
registration of only $75.00 and register by March 1st 2009.  Conference
registration will get you  training classes for all 3 day, lunch at the
Gold Star Banquet that will end the conference and more.  Visit the
Ohio APCO website at www.ohioapco.org for more information about the
training that the Ohio APCO Training Committee is offering, the vendors
that will be on display, any other general information about the
conference, and to register.

If you have general questions about the Conference, please direct them
to the Conference Committee Chair Rose Chambers at
rchambers@...

Hope to see you at the 2009 Ohio APCO/NENA State Conference.

Jim Eggeman
Ohio APCO
2nd Vice President

Come join us at the 2009 APCO North Central Regional Conference April
26th-29th in La Crosse, WI!

Come experience the new standard for a regional conference!

http://wipscom.org/APCO/2009Regional/passthroughlacrosse.html

Three Preconference Training Sessions on Sunday.
- Telecommunicator Liability
- TERT Team Leader Training
- Cybercrime and Technology Tabletop 2009

Four Tracks
- General: GETS/WPS, Wisconsin 911, Crash Study, more...
- Dispatcher: Officer Down! Stress Management, TERT, more...
- Managing/Training: Recruiting, mentoring, hiring, more...
- Technical: interoperability, radio, IP/internet, more...

24 Sessions from Which to Choose
- Top Presenters
- Each attendee can attend six sessions

http://wipscom.org/APCO/2009Regional/passthroughlacrosse.html