A program to consolidate the region’s emergency communications services drew fresh criticism this month following the hiring of an executive director to oversee the transition. Steve Reinke, former director of the Deschutes County 911 Service District in Oregon, has been hired to oversee the integration of emergency communication services across the county into a single communications center, operating under the proposed “SPOCOM” public authority.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 1:53:07 AM - SOURCE: Spokane Spokesman-Review

The Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department is essentially broke, according to a statement made by Fire Chief Don Bock at a recent meeting, during which he described the nonprofit service provider as having “no assets.” The meeting began with the department’s board approving a balance of $29,954 ending in June — an amount that would barely cover the out-of-pocket cash that Bock says he has fronted the fire department.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Key West Citizen

The City of Wichita has agreed to pay nearly $155,000 to six fire department investigators who complained they weren’t getting paid overtime wages soon enough, ending a lawsuit alleging violations of federal labor law. The settlement represents “100 cents on the dollar” for nearly $140,000 in claims brought by Branden Arnold, Chris Dugan, Donny Eckerman, Joseph Evans, Mark Reibenspies and David Thissen plus $15,000 for their attorney’s fees and other prosecution costs, according to a motion for settlement approved by a federal judge earlier this month.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wichita Eagle & Kansas.com

A San Antonio firefighter was handed a 10-day suspension this summer after video of him giving an unauthorized ride in a department fire engine ended up on social media, according to discipline records obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders. Firefighter Jason Persyn was handed the suspension in July after violating San Antonio Fire Department rules related to conduct and behavior, negative public image, improper or negligent handling, safe operation of vehicles, permission for use of city property and proper use of department vehicles, according to the paperwork.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KSAT-TV ABC 12 San Antonio

More than 2,500 public safety agencies across the country have joined FirstNet. This is nearly double the number of agencies since the last update in July. FirstNet is the nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to America's first responders. Being built with AT&T*, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), FirstNet is bringing public safety a much-needed technology upgrade to help them connect to the critical information they need.
- PUB DATE: 8/30/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: MarketWatch.com