First Responders

The agency is working with a popular freelancing website to host a competition to work in augmented and virtual reality, Internet of Things sensors and more into modern, virtual command centers for emergency response.

The two gov tech companies said a new deal would help unify record management with other tasks for first responders. The move is among the latest evidence of the ongoing digital shift in public safety.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will announce plans to allocate $30 million to the Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) when he unveils California’s revised budget on Friday, May 13.

Officials in the state believe that new technology will be an essential tool in predicting future fire disasters, which may be more common along Colorado's Front Range than previously thought.

First responders — from police to firemen — in Amherst, N.Y., often have trouble communicating during emergencies when they're only 100 feet away from each other. The town wants COVID-19 dollars to change that.

The company hopes to gain revenue by offering upgrades to the free software offered to emergency dispatch agencies. The funding round comes as NG911 work gains more investor and public interest.

The company, which sells computer-aided dispatch tech, says triage for 911 calls can reduce pressure on first responders. A program in Rochester, N.Y., also shows the potential for costs savings for public agencies.

First responders in Jefferson County, N.Y., are now using an upgraded and improved public safety radio system. The project was constructed over 10 years, and the county saved $15 million in the process.

The Richmond, Va.-based startup has spun off, in simple terms, its technology business from its creative business. The company focuses on local police and fire departments but also serves other municipal agencies.

The communications gear company, fresh off a Q4 revenue gain, wants to help first responders better communicate via smartphones. The move reflects the technology changes taking place among police and fire professionals.

After years of public outcry and calls for fresh approaches to policing, a new crisis response research tool from the software vendor aims to improve responses to mental and behavioral emergencies.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that a partnership between the New York Power Authority and AT&T will pilot FirstNet as a wireless LTE solution. The project aims to enhance the state's emergency response.

Through investment and integration, Honeywell will work with RapidSOS to improve data access for dispatchers and improve emergency response times. The move highlights the increasing appeal of public safety technology.

If the Oregon cities of Astoria and Seaside decided to consolidate their emergency dispatch centers into one countywide center, challenges like interoperability and staff shortages could finally be addressed.

The latest surge in COVID-19 cases has put a big strain on both public safety and health services in San Francisco. As a result, officials only want residents to call 911 if there’s a clear life-threatening emergency.

The deals come after the company, already big in human resources software, absorbed fresh capital from private equity firms. NEOGOV plans more moves to gain public safety business as departments upgrade digital tools.

First responders, emergency dispatchers and public safety technology vendors are preparing to deal with a cold reality: Much less federal funding for 911 upgrades than needed or expected. What happens next for response times and innovation?

The product release comes as more departments seek out augmented and virtual reality technology to sharpen the skills of first responders. That has led to more money flowing into this growing area of gov tech.