Rutherford County Emergency Communications District (RCECD)

The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District (RCECD) recently hosted 37th District TN State Representative Dawn White and 34th District TN State Representative Tim Rudd  and Tennessee Emergency Communications Board’s (TECB) Director of Government and External Affairs Amber McDonald. for a tour of the District. Director Steve Smith addressed current and emerging changes  in 911 technology, characterizing upon the importance of ‘Next Generation 911’ capabilities for Rutherford County.  Also in attendance was RCECD Assistant Director Cassie Lowery, RCECD Operations Coordinator Matt Lane, and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services Station Manager Scotty Blackburn.

Assistant Director Cassie Lowery demonstrates the District’s NG911 call processing technology in the RCECD Auxiliary PSAP.

(From L-R): RCECD Assistant Director Cassie Lowery, RCECD Operations Coordinator Matt Lane, Representative Tim Rudd, Representative Dawn White, RCECD Director Steve Smith and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services Station Manager Scotty Blackburn.

Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services (RCEMS) Station Manager Scotty Blackburn provided a briefing  to Representatives White and Rudd on the RCEMS ‘Ambubus’, which is a mass casualty medical treatment and transport unit.  The ‘Ambubus’ was on standby at the time in the event medical evacuees from Hurricane Harvey were received in middle Tennessee. The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District  currently is assisting RCEMS by providing storage space for the unit. RCEMS constructed the unit with grant funding from the Tennessee Healthcare Coalition.

(From L-R): Representative Dawn White, RCECD Director Steve Smith, Representative Tim Rudd and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services Station Manager Scotty Blackburn.

(From L-R): RCECD Director Steve Smith, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services Station Manager Scotty Blackburn, RCECD Assistant Director Cassie Lowery, Representative Dawn White, Representative Tim Rudd and TECB Director of Government and External Affairs Amber McDonald.

The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District (911) through cooperative efforts with the City of Murfreesboro Police Department and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office has taken numerous proactive measures to ensure 911 operational capability remains intact throughout the rally scheduled for the city square on Saturday October 28, 2017.

The occurrence of this event prompts these important reminders for using 911:

Currently, 911 centers in Rutherford County ARE NOT CAPABLE of receiving text messages to 911. Therefore, DO NOT attempt to send a text to the emergency number 911.

Know WHEN to call 911. 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. You should only be dialing 911 if someone is hurt or in danger, or if you are in immediate need of police, fire, or medical assistance. If you aren’t sure if your situation is an emergency, you should err on the side of safety and call 9-1-1 and let the expert who answers your call determine the appropriate action to take and provide you any important instructions.

Do NOT program 911 into the speed dial list of your mobile phone. Accidental calls to a 911 center may potentially delay help to another caller with an actual emergency. If you do accidentally dial 911, do not hang up. The 911 operator will have to devote time in attempting to call you back. Stay on the line and speak with the operator if you dial 911 by accident.

Know where you are. This is probably the most important information you can provide as a
911 caller, so try to be aware of your surroundings. Make a real effort to be as detailed as
possible. If you are outside and don’t know the street address look around and try to locate landmarks or cross streets.
 

Stay calm. When you are on the phone with a 911 operator, you are their eyes and ears. Even though you may feel like it, try not to panic. If you are crying or yelling, it can be hard for the 911 operator to understand you. If you are able to stay strong, pull yourself together, and answer all of the 911 operator’s questions, the more efficiently they can dispatch the appropriate emergency services to your location.

It is also important to remember the listed telephone numbers of the following agencies for non-emergency contact.

Murfreesboro Police Department – (615) 893-1311

Murfreesboro Fire Headquarters – (615) 893-1622

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department – (615) 898-7770

Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services – (615) 896-2520

From L to R: James Harrell, Andrea White, Jimmy Cardwell (representing the Lavergne Police Department), Trevor Cheney (MTSU Police Department), Beth Reagan (Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department), Desir’ Thorpe (Murfreesboro Police Department), Suzie Cunningham (Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services), Jelaine Nodine, Lindsey Lester, Tabitha Carter (representing the Smyrna Police Department). Photo courtesy: Lisa Marchesoni, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department.

MURFREESBORO, TN – Since being officially designated by Congress in 1991, public safety agencies across the country have recognized the instrumental role played by telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Telecommunicators are the dedicated professionals who answer 9-1-1 calls, process requests for service, and utilize technical skills to provide communications support to law enforcement, fire and rescue departments, and emergency medical services.  The second week of April is dedicated to America’s “first first” responders” who serve as public safety telecommunicators.

The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District (RCECD) held an awards luncheon on Thursday, April 13^th at the DoubleTree Hotel to honor telecommunicators who were recognized by their respective public safety agencies for exemplary service. Jeff Davidson, Deputy to the Mayor, Rutherford County, was the guest speaker and John Hood, RCECD Board Of Directors Treasurer, presented the awards.

“It has been a long-standing tradition that the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District Board of Directors has dedicated time each year to honor the outstanding men and women who answer the public’s calls to 911 seeking help”, said Steve Smith, RCECD Director.

The 2017 recipients of the Telecommunicator Awards are Beth Regan of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, Desir’ Thorpe of the Murfreesboro Police Department, the entire communications staffs of the Smyrna Police and the LaVergne Police Departments, Trevor Cheney of the MTSU Police Department, and Suzie Cunningham of the Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service.

“The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District continues to ensure that our 911 public safety answering points are provided the most current 911 technologies available. The benefits of such technologies however, would not be fully realized without the dedicated service of those individuals recognized by their departments this week”, said Smith.

Created by public referendum in 1986, the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District provides Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency communications services through five public safety answering points (PSAPs) operating within Rutherford County.

If you haven’t done so already, now would be a good time to sign up for alerts on Alert Rutherford.
http://alertrutherford.rcecd911.org. Also, if you are already signed up for alerts on Alert Rutherford, please log into your account and update your contact methods and location information as needed.

RCECD Board Of Directors Member and Treasurer John Hood was recently honored at The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross Annual Heroes Breakfast on March 8, 2017, held at The Grove in Murfreesboro.  Mr. Hood has been a member of the District’s Board Of Directors since its inception in 1986.

RCECD Board Of Directors Treasurer and Red Cross Hero John D. Hood.

John D. Hood was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to Emil and Christine Hood.  He attended Crichlow Elementary, Central High School and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1954 with an undergraduate degree in social science.  While attending MTSU, John worked at a local radio station, WGNS, as a staff announcer.  After receiving his undergraduate degree, John spent two years in the Army.  After leaving the military, John returned to the area to work as the news and program director for WMTS radio.  John also worked for ten years at MTSU as the director of development and then as an assistant to the president.  While working at MTSU, John graduated with a master’s degree in education.  After leaving MTSU in 1976, John worked in the banking industry for the next twenty years.  In 1996, John was elected as a state representative for the 48th District, serving in that capacity for twelve years.  In 2008, he returned to MTSU where he is currently the director of government and community affairs.

(L to R) RCECD Assistant Director Cassie Lowery, John Hood and RCECD Director Steve Smith

John has served in our community as a past president of the Rutherford County Chamber Of Commerce, a past member and chairman of the Murfreesboro City School Board, a past president of the Tennessee School Boards Association, a former member of the Rutherford County Quarterly Court (now Commission), current member and treasurer of the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District Board Of Directors and a former member and chairman of the Tennessee Advisory Board.  Since 1951, he also served as a charter member of the Exchange Club Of Murfreesboro where he served as president at the club, district and national levels.  John also served as past president for the National Exchange Club Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse.

John has been honored for his service to the community over the years.  In 2010, he was inducted into the Court Of Honor at the National Headquarters.  In 2012, he received the Murfreesboro City Schools Foundation Excellence in Education award.  John was named the Rutherford County Chamber Of Commerce Business Legend Of The Year for 2013.  Recently, in 2016, he was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall Of Fame.

John and his wife, Marilyn, were married for over 60 years and have three children, four grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

From the Murfreesboro Post:

From left are Dispatchers Tim Juneau, Michelle Rowland; Asst. Police Chief Michael Bowen; Supervisor Lindsay Callahan; Dispatchers Bri Dunn, Cassandra Scott; MFRD Chief Mark Foulks, Mayor McFarland. JOHN BUTWELL / The Murfreesboro Post

She was chatting online, webcasting live. Nothing unusual about that, except – she said she intended to commit suicide, and she had a gun. Two of them, in fact – two handguns.

A telephone call from Texas and the compassion, ingenuity and persistence of Murfreesboro dispatchers, police officers and EMS recently saved a woman’s life, the Murfreesboro City Council learned Thursday night.

The entire second-shift team of 911 supervisors and dispatchers at the Police Department’s Communication Center received the city’s prestigious STARS award at council from Mayor Shane McFarland for their compassionate heroism.

STARS stands for “Succeeding Through Attitudes Reflecting Service Excellence,” and the Murfreesboro dispatchers certainly had that – if refusing to give up despite repeatedly encountering a frustrating lack of tangible clues adds up to that sort of “can do” attitude.

Or in this case – “must do.”

‘Difficult to locate’

Simply put, they weren’t going to let the suicidal woman kill herself – not if there was any way at all that they could stop her.

But it wasn’t easy, according to the description of the incident that Murfreesboro Police Lt. Jimmy W. Puckett filed.

The night was May 16. The call came through to Dispatcher Bri Dunn around 8:09 p.m. – from Texas.

A Murfreesboro resident was threatening to commit suicide – but the caller only knew her name, approximate age, and “that she was armed with two handguns and staying at a local hotel,” according to Puckett.

Which hotel? The caller didn’t know. Dispatcher Michelle Rowland sent patrol units to go look while the communications staff searched the Internet for more clues.

‘Listened to cry for help’

They located the website and live feed, and “our staff listened tirelessly to her suicidal cry for help,” Puckett reported. “Staff attempted to make contact via chat – but the sheer volume of messages from those pleading with her was overwhelming, and their efforts fell short.”

Officers arrived at the scene of the only possible address the staff had been able to obtain, but didn’t find the suicidal woman, Puckett continued.

However, “communication staff never gave up in the attempt to locate her,” Puckett said. “Dispatchers Cassandra Scott, CTA Jessica Christian and Trainee James Ray, with guidance of Supervisor Lindsay Callahan and Sgt. Chad Hershman, began calling local hotels in hopes of locating her.”

Frustratingly, “this also reached a dead end,” according to Puckett – but again, the dispatchers refused to give up.

“Communication staff made contact again with the original complainant from Texas,” according to Puckett, “in an attempt to obtain any additional information that might give them a better chance to locate her. Fortunately, the complainant was able to contact a friend who was able to provide a cell phone number for the woman.”

‘Pinged’ her cell phone

Bingo! At that point, around 8:58 p.m., “Christian began efforts to ping the woman’s phone,” Puckett described, giving the 911 team her approximate location.

“From information provided by the phone company, dispatchers once again began calling hotels in the surrounding area,” Puckett added. “Dispatcher Tim Juneau made contact with the clerk at a local hotel who was able to confirm that the woman was checked into the hotel.”

From there it became a matter of responding to the known scene – at long last.

“Officers were immediately sent to the location,” Puckett said. “Communications staff continued to observe the webcast. Supervisor Callahan advised that it was apparent that the woman was becoming extremely lethargic.”

Rowland dispatched EMS as well, at that point, as officers located the suicidal woman.

‘Never gave up – went extra mile’

The second-shift 911 team “did an outstanding job and never gave up,” Puckett concluded. “If it had not been for their efforts, saving her life would have not been accomplished.”

Puckett added, “This group always takes pride and goes the extra mile. I am very thankful for each of them and the job they do every day. I am requesting that a copy of this letter be placed in their file for a job well done.”

Plus, they were recognized as STARS. Even better, a local woman is still alive.

Original article available here.

Telecommunicators of the Year are from left, Benjamin Hunt of MTSU Police, Amber Bryant and Cris Kamka of LaVergne Police, Reasa Thibodeaux of Smyrna Police, Michelle Corum of the Sheriff’s Office and Rutherford Fire and Rescue and Brandy Sweeney of Murfreesboro Police and Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue. Not shown is Penny Barrett of the Emergency Medical Services and Andrea White, Kenneth Criswell, Candace Elmore, Jamie Harrell, Dalivus Morgan and Priscilla West of La Vergne Police (Photo courtesy of WGNS).

MURFREESBORO, TN – Since being officially designated by Congress in 1991, public safety agencies across the country have recognized the instrumental role played by telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Telecommunicators are the dedicated professionals who answer 9-1-1 calls, process requests for service, and utilize technical skills to provide communications support to law enforcement, fire and rescue departments, and emergency medical services.  The second week of April is dedicated to these “first first responders” who serve as public safety telecommunicators.

The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District (RCECD) held an awards luncheon on Friday, April 15^th at the DoubleTree Hotel to honor six telecommunicators who were recognized by their respective public safety agencies for exemplary service. Mike Walker, LaVergne Chief of Police was the guest speaker & Jeff Davidson, Deputy to the Mayor presented the awards.

“It has been a long standing tradition that the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District Board of Directors has dedicated time each year to honor the outstanding men and women who answer the public’s calls to 911 seeking help”, said Steve Smith, RCECD Director.

The 2016 recipients of the Telecommunicator Awards are Michelle Corum of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, Brandy Sweeney of the Murfreesboro Police Department, Reasa Thibodeaux of the Smyrna Police Department, Emergency Services Communications Division staff Andrea White, Amber Bryant, Kenneth Criswell, Candace Elmore, Jamie Harrell, Christine Kamka, Dalivus Morgan and Priscilla West of the LaVergne Police Department, Benjamin Hunt of the MTSU Police Department, and Penny Barrett of the Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service.

“The Rutherford County Emergency Communications District continues to ensure that our 911 public safety answering points are provided the most current 911 technologies available. The benefits of such technologies however, would not be fully realized without the dedicated service of those individuals recognized by their departments this week”, said Smith.

Created by public referendum in 1986, the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District provides Enhanced 9-1-1 emergency communications services through five public safety answering points (PSAPs) operating within Rutherford County.

Telecommunicator Zach Kirsch shows 1st grade students at Barfield Elementary School how to use 911 through a coloring sheet (Photo from WGNS).

Murfreesboro (WGNS) –  If Fluffy the cat climbs up a tree, should a child call 911, asked Rutherford County Sheriff’s telecommunicator Zach Kirsch. “No,” shouted a chorus of enthusiastic 1st grade students at Barfield Elementary School.

“When Fluffy gets hungry, she’ll come down for tuna,” Kirsch joked as the children laughed. If a child is injured when an adult isn’t home, should a child call 911? Kirsch asked. “Yes,” the students replied.

The questions and answers were part of a new program for kindergarten through 3rd grade students Kirsch and fellow telecommunicator Raymond Shew developed to teach children how, why and when to call 911. They will work with the school resource officers to teach the program in every county school.

Kirsch presented the first program last week in 1st grade classes taught by Natalie Russell, Heather McKee and Robin Saupe. Principal Judy Goodwin joined in by demonstrating how to call 911 on the classroom phone.

Barfield School Resource Officer Ward Bates coordinated with Goodwin and the teachers for Kirsch to teach 18 classes during the first day of the program last week. They distributed coloring sheets to place on home refrigerators, pencils and flyers to reinforce the message.

Kirsch reminded the students that if they dialed 911 by accident, they should stay on the line so the telecommunicator can make sure there is not an emergency. Otherwise, a deputy will be sent to the home to check for an emergency.

He asked 1st grade students if they knew their address so that emergency responders could reach them quickly during an emergency.

“If you don’t know, go home and ask your mom,” Kirsch said.

Six-year-old Mason Newcomb asked, “If you have a broken leg, do you call?”

Kirsch explained he should tell an adult. But if an adult isn’t available, he should call 911.

Both Shew and Kirsch have answered numerous 911 calls from children who don’t know what to say. They hope the program will allow children to remember when to call 911, what an emergency is and what their location is. By using scenarios, they hope the children will remember their message.

“If a child is truly scared, they need to call 911,” Shew said. “If they can’t get their parents in an emergency, they should call 911. We hope to break down barriers.”

Original article: WGNS Radio: 911 Class For First Graders

RCECD was honored to host the National Emergency Number Association‘s Center Manager Certification Program in late September.

Presented by NENA in cooperation with the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB), NENA’s Center Manager Certification Program (CMCP) is designed to equip current, new, and potential PSAP and 9-1-1 Authority managers and supervisors with the tools needed to effectively manage their agency through a rigorous 40-hour course of lecture and lab-based education. The program serves as an affordable career advancement opportunity to anyone involved in public safety agency management, and provides education in subject areas that are critically important to anyone looking to forge a long and successful career path.

This session had attendees from ECDs across Tennessee and out of state.

WALTER HILL, Tenn. (AP) — A Middle Tennessee teen is alive, thanks to Siri.

Eighteen-year-old Sam Ray says the voice recognition service on his iPhone — famously named Siri — called emergency dispatchers after his truck fell on him while he tried to make repairs.

Ray told media outlets that a jack collapsed, pinning him under nearly 5,000 pounds of metal in a location where he couldn’t be easily seen or heard. He says he was trying to get free when he heard Siri activate.

“I said ‘Call 911,’ and that was all it said,” he said.

Rutherford County dispatcher Christina Lee says she first thought it was a mistaken pocket-dial, but then she heard his screams for help and sent crews, who rescued him.

She said she knew his general location from the cellphone signal, but Ray helped them pinpoint his exact whereabouts.

“The map got to his street. … It got pretty close,” Lee said. “But he was yelling his address, and that was the best thing he could have done.”

When volunteer firefighters arrived, they raised the truck back up with a jack and pulled Ray out. He was under the truck for about 40 minutes.

“I could feel myself slipping,” he said. “I was starting to accept that I wouldn’t get out.”

Ray and Lee met Friday for the first time after the July 2 incident.

Rick Miller, who is chief of trauma and surgical care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said Ray suffered broken ribs, a bruised kidney, cuts and a concussion, and he had burns on one arm. Miller said Ray is lucky his wounds weren’t worse.

“Sometimes these crush injuries can be devastating and can kill you,” Miller said. “I’ve never heard of a story where you can figure out a way to use Siri to call 911 and get yourself rescued.”

Sam Ray said he is thankful to be alive.

“I guess I’m stuck with an iPhone for the rest of my life,” he said. “I owe them that.”