Within the Trenches

Within the Trenches is back with episode 57! This is just one of several episodes recorded last week during the Indiana NENA state conference. In this episode I sat down to talk with Heather and Kelly, dispatchers out of LaGrange County in Indiana and they received one of this years Team Work Awards. We look at how they got started in 9-1-1 and how they played a major part in a situation where a woman was taken hostage in Michigan and ended up in Indiana. The suspect was a prisoner who had escaped from custody out of Ionia County. This is a must listen so check it out and share! As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Episode topics – How Heather got started in 9-1-1 How Kelly got started in 9-1-1 Team Work Award News coverage

Within the Trenches is back with episode 55! This is just one of several episodes recorded last week during the Indiana NENA state conference. In this episode I sat down to talk with Rob, Director of Vigo County Central Dispatch and North Central Regional Director of National NENA and Terri, Director of Fayette County Communications, NENA Central Region Vice President and Director of Indiana APCO. We took a trip down memory lane while laughing until our stomachs hurt and our eyes watered and stung. It’s an episode you don’t want to miss so listen and share! For more information on Indiana NENA please follow the links below. As always you can email the show at [email protected] Indiana NENA – Web | Facebook | Twitter Episode topics - How Rob started in 9-1-1 How Terri started in 9-1-1 NENA awards Continuing education for 9-1-1 dispatchers

Hello everyone! Within the Trenches is back with episode 53 featuring Ed, the Director of Bartholomew County 9-1-1 Center and President of Indiana NENA. The show is recording on location from the Marriott East in Indianapolis, Indiana for the annual Indiana NENA conference. In this episode Ed shares his dispatch experience, switching from dispatch to being an on the road state trooper and eventually becoming the director at Bartholomew. This is just one of several episodes coming up this week from the Indiana NENA conference so stay tuned for more. This episode is sponsored by Indiana NENA and INdigital telecom. As always you can email the show at [email protected]! Episode topics - Ed's start in dispatch and switch to law enforcement Dispatch training How officers would benefit from sitting in dispatch Continuing education through NENA

Hello everyone! Within the Trenches is back with episode 52 featuring Jeff, the Director of Monroe County Central Dispatch and 1st Vice President for Indiana NENA. The show is recording on location from the Marriott East in Indianapolis, Indiana for the annual Indiana NENA conference. In this episode Jeff shares his dispatch experience, the importance of continuing education, what the general public knows or doesn’t know about 9-1-1 and some advice to new and seasoned dispatchers. This is just one of several episodes coming up this week from the Indiana NENA conference so stay tuned for more. This episode is sponsored by Indiana NENA and INdigital telecom. As always you can email the show at [email protected]! Episode topics - Rising through the ranks Memorable dispatch moments Continuing education through NENA

Hello everyone! Within the Trenches is back with episode 51 featuring David, the Director of Kosciusko 9-1-1 in Indiana. The show is recording on location from the Marriott East in Indianapolis, Indiana for the annual Indiana NENA conference. In this episode David shares his dispatch experience and how he worked his way up to the position of director of his center. We also touch on text-to-9-1-1 and his experience thus far. This is just one of several episodes coming up this week from the Indiana NENA conference so stay tuned for more. This episode is sponsored by Indiana NENA and INdigital telecom. As always you can email the show at [email protected]! Episode topics - David - from dispatch to director text-to-9-1-1 Why callers would rather text than call

Within the Trenches is back with episode 50! The show has come a long way since the Kickstarter campaign. Whitney and I have spoken to dispatchers, leaders and educators within the dispatch community. The show has also been present for different conferences and the first one was last year at the Mini-C conference in Boca Raton Florida. Tom with the Cool Kids of 9-1-1 invited the show to be there on one of the days to do interviews. The hospitality was excellent, the people were awesome and inspiring and I can’t thank Tom enough for the invite and exposure. This year the Mini-C will be on April 7th – 11th from 0800 – 1700 and one of the dispatchers attending this year is our special guest on today’s episode. In this episode I spoke with Dana from Sumter County Sheriff’s Department. She shared her dispatch experience with me as well as her experience at last years Mini-C. This year she will be attending all week and will be posting on her social media outlets as the conference goes on so make sure to check her out at the links below. Dana also had a spotlight feature with Public Safety Communications and you can find the link below as well. This is a must listen episode so make sure to listen, share and check her out! As always you can email the show at [email protected]! The Cool Kids of 9-1-1 – Web | Facebook Dana – Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Article spotlight Tweet Hastags for the Mini-C - #MiniC2014 #CoolKidsof911 Episode topics – Text to 9-1-1 platform texTTY How Dana got into dispatching Dana’s dispatch experience The Mini-C conference

Woo! Within the Trenches Podcast is back with episode 49 and I would like to welcome back Whitney! She has been gone for some time and rather than spoil the surprise I will let you go ahead and listen to her reveal it. In this episode we share some personal stories along with what happened on my trip to Marquette Michigan for work. It was an awesome experience and I can't wait to go back. Towards the end we touch on Kari's Law and future episodes. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and follow the links below to 'Like' Kari's Law on Facebook and sign the petition on Change.org. Kari's Law - Facebook | Change.org Episode topics - Whitney's reveal Marquette or Bust Future guests/topics Kari's Law

Welcome to a brand new episode of Within the Trenches. It has been a very busy week but I'm back! In this episode I sat down with Missy and Greg of Three Rivers Ambulance Authority (TRAA.) I met them during a training session a few weeks ago and I was impressed with them as well as the rest of the dispatchers and agency as a whole. We shared stories about their career, what High Performance EMS stands for and what it takes to run the agency. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and don't forget to check below for links to our podcast promotion featuring, highperfomanceems.com. Also remember that tomorrow is the day that the No 9 Needed campaign asks that you change your social media profile pictures to the No 9 Needed logo in support of Kari's Law. For more information on Kari's Law please follow this link. High Performance EMS - Web | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin Episode topics - Missy's beginning Greg's beginning What is High Performance EMS An overview of TRAA What it takes to dispatch

Good afternoon and this is episode 47 of Within the Trenches. It has been a couple of weeks since the last episode and I couldn’t wait any longer so I decided to record an episode. I wanted to keep it light so I pulled some 9-1-1 calls from YouTube. I pulled a couple from a channel that belongs to AmericanPride1234 and they are awesome! If you get the chance make sure to check out the channel and subscribe. I have been pretty busy with work lately and one of the weeks I was on the road I got very sick. I made sure to share the story so I hope you enjoy it. There are more new episodes coming up so stay tuned! As always you can email the show at [email protected] Episode topics – Stomach bug on the road 9-1-1 tapes – Kid calls 911 for help with math Guy calls 911 for pot question Guy gets junk stuck in pump Joe vs. Deer 911 call

Today’s episode of Within the Trenches touches on the topic of stress and physical and mental issues in 9-1-1. As 9-1-1 dispatchers, we have heard it all. We have taken every call from the most ridiculous to the most horrific. If you’re like me, the calls that involve children are the ones that affect you most. I once took a call from a nine-year-old girl who had come home from school and found her mom passed out in the living room. She told me that her mom was not moving and her face was blue. I told her how to do CPR and she did it the best she could until help arrived. Although she did a great job her mom had already passed. She had had an overdose and died long before her daughter got home. I remember the little girl being scared but never lost it. Maybe it was the shock of the situation. Whatever it was, it’s a call I’ll never forget. Towards the end of my dispatch career I began to feel burnt out. I enjoyed my job but the politics, long hours, workplace drama and stress began to eat at me. It’s something that people don’t understand unless you have done the job. The stress can be so great that some dispatchers have crashed and burned. How come no one, other than the dispatchers themselves, have noticed or addressed this? It’s something that wasn’t out there before but within the past year there have been numerous news articles covering the constant stress and physical and mental state of 9-1-1 dispatchers. Whitney and I have done episodes in the past about CISM and EMDR but I wanted to do another one. In this episode I spoke with Michelle, assistant professor with Northern Illinois University who has been doing research on 9-1-1 dispatchers for the past few years concentrating on mental and physical health. There is a lot to learn in this episode. There was so much we could touch on that we are going to do a second episode to cover the rest. Michelle’s research is ongoing and if you would like to participate you can do so by clicking the link below. There is also a description. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. 911 Telecommunicators Study - We are currently looking for participants to enroll in our current studies. We are recruiting experienced TCs (at least one year of experience as a TC) and they can be currently working, have left the occupation, or retired from the job. Experienced TCs can complete a 1.5-2 hour survey online that they complete in multiple sittings. We are also doing follow up surveys that are much shorter (45 minutes) at 6 months and 12 months after the first survey. For each survey completed, the TC gets entered for a chance to win one of two $100 cash prizes. There will be three drawings - one after we're finished collecting the baseline survey, one after we're done collecting the 6 month survey, and one after the 12 month survey. The survey is hoping to get a good estimate of the psychological and physical health complaints of TCs and is a follow up to the pilot project. We're also hoping to understand much more about what predicts poor health over time for this population. We also hope to enroll trainees. They just have to be within their first 4 months of training. These participants complete a 1.5-2 hour survey and get $30 for completing it, as well as a chance to win one of two $100 cash prizes. In addition, we do shorter follow up surveys (45 min in length) and hold drawings for each of the subsequent time points that a trainee completes the survey. We hope that they will stay enrolled, even if they do not complete training or leave the job. The survey is looking at factors that predict adverse mental health and job attrition over time to help improve training efforts, hiring practices, and telecommunicator well-being. Episode topics – Blue Mazda call Michelle’s intro and research interest What elements contribute to PTSD And more

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to another awesome episode of Within the Trenches. In this episode I hosted our first Google+ Hangout. This was a live broadcast and although we had some minor technical difficulties I feel that it worked out rather well. This episode featured Gary Allen, editor of Dispatch Monthly (911dispatch.com), Ryan, a 9-1-1 dispatcher out of Pennsylvania and our podcast promotion featured 911Trainer.com. We suffered a minor audio issue with Ryan in the beginning so he signed out of the discussion but we will have him on another episode that will feature his 9-1-1 experience. Between Gary and I, we hit topics such as 9-1-1 call accuracy, text to 9-1-1, taking ridiculous calls and much more! Below you will find links to Gary’s website, our podcast promotion and other sites we discussed on the show. You will also find two videos below. The first video is of our Hangout and the second features a video I played on the show but did not show up to the viewers. So…ever wonder what text FROM 9-1-1 would look like? Well, the second video is a teaser and shows what some dispatchers in Indiana are already using. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. 911Trainer.com – Web | Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube Dispatch Monthly – Web Urgent Communications – Web NTIA - Web Episode topics – An intro to Gary Allen of Dispatch Monthly The release and controversy of the Newtown 9-1-1 tapes The definition of “response time” 9-1-1 call accuracy FirstNet

Good evening folks and welcome back to another installment of Within the Trenches. One thing I have always wanted to do with this show is focus on dispatch stories, which I have done but I also want to start focusing on topic driven episodes. So far on the show we have taken on PTSD in dispatch, dispatch training standards and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Continuing with the focus on topic driven episodes, I got the chance to chat with Matt, Senior Director of Product Management for Smart911 by Rave Mobile Safety. In this episode we touch on what Smart911 does, how they started and how the program works. According to their website, “Smart911 is a free service that allows citizens across the U.S. to create a Safety Profile for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 to have in the event of an emergency.” Make sure to listen and share with your friends and family. Also make sure to check out The Thin Gold Line on Facebook for 9-1-1 news, memes and discussion. Another source for 9-1-1 news, memes and discussion is Diary of a Mad Dispatcher. KMK, the pages creator recently wrote and published a book called, Endure (The Greyson-Slade Series). You can find it on Amazon so check it out! Smart911 – Facebook | Twitter | Web Diary of a Mad Dispatcher – Facebook | Amazon - Endure (The Greyson-Slade Series) The Thin Gold Line - Facebook Episode topics – What is Smart911? Where is Smart911 available? Smart911 success story Changes in 9-1-1 tech The future of Smart911

Good morning and welcome back! Whitney and I finally got the chance to record episode 43 and this is a must listen and watch! In this episode we sat down with our good friend Matt to talk about ridiculous calls and non-emergency calls on emergency lines. Matt is a local police officer and since we have worked with him before we felt he would be best suited for this episode. We also visit inappropriate 9-1-1 "on hold" songs and share other funny stories. Get ready to be schooled and make sure to check out our podcast promotion featuring Facebook fan page 911 Dispatches From the Edge. This page is a good mixture of humor and seriousness. It's a place for 9-1-1 professionals to vent, network, share stories and more. Tune in next week when I sit down with Smart911 to share what they do for the public and dispatch. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. 911 Dispatches From the Edge - Facebook Episode topics - Back to dispatch traffic The infamous sniff Ridiculous calls on 9-1-1 How Matt handles ridiculous calls

Good afternoon and welcome to another episode of Within the Trenches. In this episode we visit some calls from our past and I explain a few key stories from episode 40. We start off cracking up and it pretty much sets the tone for the entire episode. We also play a 9-1-1 tape that was featured in the season finale of A&E's Panic 9-1-1. This was also an episode that I was flown out for. I recorded a segment with them where I would be the stand in for the dispatcher in the tape but after a few attemtps to fit in my angle it did not work out. From what I was told my voice didn't match the dispatcher on the tape and once you hear it you will agree. Either way it was a great experience and I hope to help them out again. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and don't forget to check out the new t-shirt campaigns going on at teespring.com. Cheers! Episode topics - Tug of war stomach blow Hamburger guy stench "I shot him six times!" (9-1-1 tape) Code 7 Apparel *All tapes are from Dispatch Magazine Online's library

Good morning and welcome back to another excellent episode of the Within the Trenches podcast. This weeks podcast promotion features Diary of a Mad Dispatcher on Facebook! I will provide the link below and make sure to head over and ‘Like’ them. They are 66,000+ strong and adding more fans every day. The page is tailored to 9-1-1 dispatchers but anyone would be able to get the humor from this page. With that said, this weeks episode features Jessica, a dispatcher with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Jessica’s interview was excellent and her stories are compelling. This is an episode you don’t want to miss! As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Make sure to check out our t-shirt campaign! There are only eight days left so get yours today! 9-1-1 Dispatcher – It’s the real thing (t-shirt campaign) Diary of a Mad Dispatcher – Facebook Episode topics - Jessica’s transition from military police to dispatch Jessica’s first call and experience with a belligerent caller The horror of hearing shots fired over the radio A stranded hiker on top of a mountain Advice for those looking to get into dispatching

Good morning! Whitney and I are back with an epic episode of Within the Trenches. In this episode we went back to basics and kept laughing and laughing. This is dispatch humor at its best folks! Yes, the humor is a little dark but people have to understand that in order to work as a 9-1-1 dispatcher you have to have a sense of humor or the job will eat you alive. You will not make it if you let the calls get to you. With that said we also listen to three tapes and tell stories from the trenches. Get ready to laugh and make sure to comment and share this episode. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Also make sure to support the show by checking out our t-shirt campaign at Teespring! T-shirt campaign for “9-1-1 Dispatcher – It’s the real thing.” Episode topics - Our delay between episodes New job Ricardo’s hernia story Leg meat (yes…leg meat) 9-1-1 tapes

An excellent episode with the return of Whitney!

Good afternoon folks! I'm back with episode 37 of Within the Trenches. In this episode I started the "Podcast Plug Exchange." I was approached by Brad Kirsch and I am very happy to be doing this with him and others who want to participate. The Podcast Plug Exchange is meant to help fellow podcasters spread the word on their show. So you would provide me a brief description of your show and an image to be added to the post and your information will be given out during an episode of the show. With that said it has been an interesting week! This past Monday was my last day in dispatch. It was surreal and bittersweet. Working in dispatch has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. It is something that can never be replaced. I have made such great friends and the calls we took together are ones that no one else will ever understand. I want to say thank you to everyone in the 9-1-1 community and I appreciate everything! For more information on Brad Kirsch and The Digital Entrepreneur Podcast make sure to follow the links below. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and don't forget that if you want to buy a t-shirt for the show you can use the promo code GET10 for 10% your purchase. The Digital Entrepreneur Podcast | Web | Twitter Episode topics – Podcast Plug Exchange 911 call – Man in snowblower 911 call – Man missing jaw Last day of work & sign off

Good afternoon folks! This is going to be episode 36 of Within the Trenches. This is where everything will be revealed. Normally I would specify what the highlights of the episode are but for this one I will simply say, "Listen and you will find out." This is a very important episode! Listen, share and please comment!

Within the Trenches is back with episode 35! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer, Director of Loudon County 9-1-1 in Tennessee and she is also the NENA President for the Tennessee Chapter. Jennifer shared her 9-1-1 story beginning with her time as a telecommunicator to her rise up to the position of director. We also touch on how important 9-1-1 is as the main link in each call and how 9-1-1 is pushed to the back of the emergency services chain. This was the last episode that I recorded at the National NENA Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The entire week was amazing and I came out with some new friends and fans of the show. Thank you all for everything and the participation! As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Episode topics – How Jennifer got into 9-1-1 Calls that stick with her (i.e. Officer involved shooting) Getting closure from calls taken over 9-1-1 Why 9-1-1 is put off to the side when it comes to the chain of 9-1-1 Services

Within the Trenches is back with episode 34! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Tony, Deputy Executive Director of the European Emergency Number Association (EENA.) This is a very interesting episode in the sense of differences to the structure of 9-1-1 in Europe over the United States. Tony touches on some of the difficulties Europe is having with implementing new technologies and how phone calls for 112, 999 (9-1-1) are very similar to what we deal with in the states. For more information on EENA you can follow the links below. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. EENA – Web | Facebook | Twitter Episode topics – What EENA stands for Comparing 9-1-1/1-1-2 in the United States and Europe Implementing new technologies Staying ahead by looking at NG9-1-1 for when it hits Europe

Within the Trenches is back with episode 33! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Caryn, who is with Will County 9-1-1 out of Illinois and Robert with the Commission on State Emergency Communications out of Texas. Both represent the National Public Educators Forum or NPEF and we discussed the mission of the organization and the importance of public education. This episode holds a wealth of information and has something that everyone can learn from. For more information on NPEF you can follow the links below. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. NPEF – Web | Facebook Episode topics – What NPEF stands for The mission of NPEF The importance of public education Upcoming NPEF Events

Within the Trenches is back with episode 32! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Nathan, President/Founder of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, April, the Michigan NENA President, and Brian with DU-COMM out of DuPage County Illinois. Now, out of all the sessions that were given at this conference I wanted more than anything to attend this one. The session was about 9-1-1 training standards and although it might not sound appealing it highlighted a very important story. The story of Denise Amber Lee is one that everyone should know and learn from. It is because of her story and others that 9-1-1 standards are needed. Nathan is the President and founder of the foundation that is named after his wife and his mission is to see that standards are developed and put into place. According to the foundations official website, it is the mission, "to promote and support public safety through uniform training, standardized protocols, defined measurable outcomes, and technological advances to the 9-1-1 system." It goes on to say that its vision is, "to be the emotional driving force for changes in the 9-1-1 system in order to minimize human error." Denise's story is highlighted on this episode through the audio of a video Nathan played during the session. We also stress the importance of standards in 9-1-1 training as well as some problems with standardizing training throughout the country. This is a very important episode, one that we can all learn from. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and to learn more about the Denise Amber Lee Foundation please follow the links below. Denise Amber Lee Foundation – Web | Facebook | Twitter APCO Standards | Web Episode topics – The story of Denise Amber Lee The mission of the foundation The importance of 9-1-1 standards Some problems with moving forward with standards

Within the Trenches is back with episode 31! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Elise, the Executive Director of 9-1-1 for Kids. The history of the organization is revealed as well as the main purpose, which is to help reduce 9-1-1 misuse. This was an excellent episode and as you will hear in the beginning and the end of the show the music is different. This was done in honor of 9-1-1 for Kids and more information on the song can be found on their website by following the links below. This episode is packed with information and as always you can email the show at [email protected]. 9-1-1 For Kids – Web | Facebook | Twitter Episode topics – The main goal of 9-1-1 for Kids The importance of public education Awards given for 9-1-1 heroes 9-1-1 stories involving child heroes

Within the Trenches is back with episode 30! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Natalie, who is retired out of Miami Dade Fire Rescue after 36 years and Sherry, who is with the North Central Texas Counsel of Governments 9-1-1 Program. In this episode we talk about TERT (Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce) and who 9-1-1 calls when they need help. This episode is especially informative and interesting because I did not know a lot about TERT or what they did. We also chat about major disasters, the benefits of TERT and how to get involved and help your fellow 9-1-1 professionals. For more information on TERT please follow the links below. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. TERT – Web | Facebook Episode topics – The meaning of TERT (Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce) What does TERT do? Recent major disasters where TERT was utilized How to get involved

Within the Trenches is back with episode 29! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Kristina and Shelley of Bartlett PD in Tennessee and Rob of Queensland Police Service located in Brisbane, Australia. In this episode we share first time calls, the importance of knowing your location and the stress that comes with working in the 9-1-1 profession. All of the episodes I recorded while I was here were great but I made a personal bond with this group throughout my stay in North Carolina so it made this episode special. You will also have a lot to take away from this because of the amount of great information on here. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Episode topics – How Kristina got into 9-1-1 How Shelley got into 9-1-1 How we as dispatcher's play the "woulda shoulda game" on calls Advice for the public when calling 9-1-1

Within the Trenches is back with episode 28! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with MaryJo of Brooklyn PD and Kelly of Cleveland PD and both are out of Ohio. We shared some laughs as well as some serious stories. Both had great advice for those thinking of getting into the profession. The episode is packed with interesting information and is a must listen episode. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Episode topics – How MaryJo got into 9-1-1 How Kelly got into 9-1-1 Taking 9-1-1 calls that include children Advice for those looking to get into the profession

Within the Trenches is back with episode 27! This episode was recorded at the National NENA Conference and Expo at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin of 9-1-1 Cares/PSTC. We shared stories from the trenches and how Kevin went from working for "AAA" to a 9-1-1 dispatch center. He also went into the history of 9-1-1 cares and how the organization does everything they can to support those behind the mic. This is a must listen episode and to learn more about the organization please follow the links below. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. 9-1-1 Cares | Web | Facebook PSTC | Web | Facebook Episode topics – History of 9-1-1 Cares How Kevin fell into dispatching Haunting 9-1-1 calls Text to 9-1-1

Good morning folks! Within the Trenches is back for episode 26! I had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with Roger of Cullman County 9-1-1 out of Alabama and Craig who is retired out of Guilford Metro 9-1-1 in North Carolina. This episode is a must listen as both Roger and Craig go through their history with 9-1-1 and how it pulled them in. Craig had emergency services in his blood, so to speak, since his father and uncle's helped form several volunteer fire departments. Roger on the other hand was first part of the defense industry. Once he retired from there he moved into emergency services and became a 9-1-1 director after long admiring the profession. This episode is a must listen. The history and look back at how 9-1-1 was before more recent technology is very interesting. As always you can email the show at [email protected] for comments, concerns suggestions or if you would like to be on the show. Episode topics – How Craig got into 9-1-1 How Roger got into 9-1-1 A look back at how 9-1-1 was before recent technology A look at text to 9-1-1 and the progress

Good morning everyone! I'm back with another awesome episode of Within the Trenches. In this episode I tried something different from the norm. At the suggestion of two awesome 9-1-1 pro's, Kristina and Shelley, I grabbed my digital audio recorder and walked the expo hall for spot interviews. I have to admit that it was a lot of fun and I was able to get some good audio. Probably one of the most interesting parts of this episode dealt with THOR Shield that is made by Intrado. Monica, who works with the company, walked me through this massive mobile PSAP (Public-Safety Answering Point.) The trailer of this unit sits 17 dispatchers and has its own conference room on the second floor. I wanted to get some photos but was unable to. I was told that I can get some shots emailed to me and as soon as I get those I will post them up for all to see. I hope you enjoy this episode and as always you can email the show at [email protected]. For more information on Intrado's THOR Shield click here. Episode topics – Spot interview w/Kristina of Bartlett PD in Tennessee Spot interview w/Rob of Queensland Police Service out of Australia Tour of THOR Shield with Monica of Intrado

Hello everyone! Within the Trenches is back with episode 23 and this is a must listen. In this episode I went live on Spreaker and all went well until I forgot that the screen door was locked and my wife was trying to get inside but couldn't. I had to go off the air for a short moment but everything came out great either way. This episode also included some highlights of the NENA conference last week in Lansing and the announcement of our involvement in the National NENA conference that will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. We will have the privilege of podcasting along side Mark Fletcher and the Avaya Podcast Network. It's going to be a great experience. With that said we are looking for sponsors. There is a large portion of the trip that is already paid but we need a little more for travel and hotel and in all honesty I am prepared to live out of my car for the entire week but if anyone would like to sponsor or donate to the show it would be appreciated. Right now we have several shirts for sale at The Jabber Log Store. All the money goes directly to the show. We don't pocket any of the money so anything extra for the show comes out of pocket. If you can buy a shirt and show your support that would be great! For those with a business I have something for you as well. If you would like to sponsor the show there is a 3-tier offer available. Tier 1 for $100 – Your logo will be added to a sign and displayed on the broadcast table during the week at the conference. Tier 2 for $200 – Your logo will be added to a sign and on a special page of The Jabber Log. Tier 3 for $300 – The first two will be a part of this tier but your business will also be mentioned in an episode of the show. In order to do this you can simply click on the donate button on the right side of this page and after you have donated one of the three amounts please email me at [email protected] so that we can exchange information on your business and logo. This is an excellent opportunity so please take advantage of it. Thank you very much once again and your help is appreciated! As always you can email the show at [email protected] and 'Like' us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter! Episode topics – Lansing, MI NENA conference highlights Behind the mic – Stories from the Trenches National NENA conference In search of sponsors – 3 Tier plan T-shirt Sales

Good evening everyone and welcome to episode 22 of Within the Trenches. This is the last episode of the NENA conference series that were recorded in Lansing, Michigan at the Lexington Hotel. The entire week was great and I definitely learned a lot. I also gave my own presentation on how I got into the 9-1-1 profession and how I created Within the Trenches. Despite my nerves I was able to give an excellent presentation and I am looking forward to the next time I speak at a conference. In this episode I was joined by my co-host Whitney. We had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah, Dispatch Operations Coordinator with Washtenaw County, Jennifer, a supervisor with Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority and Bob, who is the NENA Regional Director with Intrado. In the beginning of this episode Bob told us that this is the 27th year that Michigan has had this conference. This is something I never knew and it was interesting to listen to him give the history of this conference and how important it is. We also touched on how important the profession of 9-1-1 is and how everyone in emergency services should do what he or she can to attend a NENA conference. This was truly an amazing week for my co-host, the show and myself. We are doing big things and making it happen. I want to personally thank everyone who helped me throughout the week. Most importantly I want to thank Jeri. If it wasn't for your conversation with my assistant director I might have never applied to be a presenter. Thank you for everything! To those who I recently met and are helping to make things happen, I thank you and you will not be sorry. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and if you would like to know more about NENA, local conferences and membership please follow the link below. NENA | Web Episode topics – What NENA is all about How each guest got involved in emergency services Next Generation 9-1-1 Early memorable calls from each guest The importance of attending a NENA conference

Good afternoon everyone! I am back again with another great episode from this weeks NENA conference in Lansing, Michigan. In this episode Mike of St. Joseph County Fire Dispatch in South Bend, Indiana, joined me along with Ron, Executive Director of Kent County Dispatch Authority and Nancy, Dispatch Operations Manager of St. Joseph County in Indiana. Episode 21 is jammed packed with useful information and a must listen. We touch on several dispatch stories as well as a mention of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation that Ron is a part of. One of the major points in this episode is a standardization of training for 9-1-1 professionals. For more information on the Denise Amber Lee Foundation please see the link below. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. Denise Amber Lee Foundation | Web | Facebook Episode topics – How each guest was introduced to emergency services 9-1-1 standards How 9-1-1 is seen as a profession 9-1-1 stories Odd names such as "Cop Shop", "Actin' a Fool" and "Done Fell Out."

Good morning and happy Friday! This has been an amazing week for me. I had the chance to attend the 2013 NENA conference in Lansing, Michigan for 9-1-1 professionals. I attended some excellent classes and met some great people doing great things. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Dee Ann, assistant director of Tuscola county 9-1-1, an ENP and one of the founding board members of the 911 Wellness Foundation. Also sitting with us for this episode was Jim Marshall with the 911 Wellness Foundation and also the director of the 911 Training Institute. This is an episode that you do not want to miss. The information in this episode is important for everyone and Jim even gets me with a Jedi Mind Trick by getting me to admit a few things. It definitely felt good to admit those items so thank you Jim and Dee Ann for helping me and those in our field. For more information on the 911 Wellness Foundation or the 911 Training Institute please follow the links below. Also if you would like to get a hold of them through the show or our Facebook fan page you can shoot us an email and we can make contact with them. As always you can email the show at [email protected]. 911 Wellness Foundation | Web 911 Training Institute | Web Episode topics – The humor of the work spouse Dealing with stress and how it affects your family Stress and your health EMDR

Good afternoon everyone! I hope you are having an excellent day. I am currently in Lansing, Michigan for the 2013 NENA conference. This episode is the first of a series that will be recorded here. I have been attending classes, meeting new people and for this episode I had the pleasure of speaking to Dee Ann, the assistant director of Tuscola County Central Dispatch. We had an excellent conversation and this is one that you can't afford to miss! As always you can email the show at [email protected] and make sure to 'Like' us on Facebook! Episode topics - How Dee Ann got into dispatch 9-1-1 calls that have stuck with her What an ENP is

Hello everyone! Whitney and I are back with an epic episode 18 of Within the Trenches. It has been about a month or so since Whit and I were together for an episode but we are back to hook you up with another excellent show. This week both Whitney and I have been battling some health issues but my minor cold and Whit's ear were unable to hold us back. On this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing none other than the very popular KMK of Diary of a Mad Dispatcher. KMK shared some awesome stories from her dispatch career including her very first 9-1-1 call and another call from a drunk who called in saying that he had fallen off a cliff but what he didn't realize was that there are no cliffs in the area he was in. Get ready to hear from the Mad Dispatcher herself and make sure to check her out on Facebook and her t-shirt store on etsy.com by searching "The Mad Dispatcher." As always you can email the show at [email protected] and 'Like' our new Facebook page! In this episode I said it was just Within the Trenches but it's actually Within the Trenches Podcast. Cheers! Diary of a Mad Dispatcher | Facebook | etsy.com Within the Trenches | Facebook Episode topics - The beginning of KMK's dispatch career How Diary of a Mad Dispatcher was created A time restriction on the release of 9-1-1 tapes Social Media and NG911

Hello everyone, I am back this week for episode 17 of Within the Trenches. This is the last of a series of episodes that were recorded at the Mini-C conference in Boca Raton Florida. In this episode I sat down with four of Palm Beach State College 9-1-1 Dispatch Academy's finest. The conversation I had with Lisa, Myrnett, Wayne and Kimberly was excellent and refreshing. Their insight and experience going through the academy brought me back to when I first started. My beginning wasn't as elaborate but it definitely brought me back. Thank you very much for sitting with me and sharing your experience. I have dubbed you the Fearless Four. Good luck on your finals and I know you will do great things. I want to thank Tom of the Cool Kids of 9-1-1 for inviting Within the Trenches to be part of this and everyone involved in the Mini-C conference and those who were guests on the show. On behalf of Whitney and I, we appreciate it more than you know. If you would like to know more about the Palm Beach State College 9-1-1 Dispatch Academy you can follow the link below. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and make sure to like us on Facebook! Palm Beach State College 9-1-1 Dispatch Academy | Web Episode topics Why each one of them wanted to get into dispatching Their experience in the academy Calls they have listened to The recent Bakersfield California call controversy Their message to anyone thinking of getting into dispatching

Good evening folks! I am back again with a new episode of Within the Trenches. This episode is a continuation of the series of episodes that I recorded this past week at the Mini-C conference in Boca Raton Florida. In this episode I had the privilege of speaking with Cheryl who works with Palm Beach County 9-1-1 Management and is a part-time 9-1-1 dispatcher. Cheryl was great to talk to and she finished off the interview with an excellent message for the public. It's something that everyone needs to hear because when you make a 9-1-1 call there is specific information we need so her message is one that is very important. As always you can email the show at [email protected] and make sure to 'Like' us on Facebook! Episode topics - How Cheryl got into dispatch How long she's been doing it Next Generation 9-1-1 Memorable call - Home invasion where callers mom was shot and the little girl on the phone was also shot w/Cheryl on the phone Message for the public

Good afternoon! This episode of Within the Trenches features Sabrina of West Palm Beach Dispatch Operations. We had an excellent conversation before recording and it was nice because we were able to get to know each other better. After only a few minutes of talking to her I felt as though we knew each other all our lives. This is a must listen episode that everyone can learn from. Make sure to check it out, share and as always, you can email the show at [email protected]. Episode topics - How Sabrina got into dispatching The interview process Line of duty death Dispatch education/training

Good evening! Last week was rather busy with my root canal, 22 hour drive to Florida and graduation. I'm very happy to say that my family and I made it through everything with no problems, but last weeks episode had to be postponed. I'm still on vacation in Florida and just yesterday I had the privilege of attending the 4th Annual Mini-C conference in Boca Raton. I was initially invited by Tom of The Cool Kids of 9-1-1. He and I had been talking about promoting each others work and he mentioned this conference. It was promoted on Jabber Log and afterward he said it was too bad that Whitney and I couldn't be there during the conference. Well, it just so happened that I was going to be in Florida so I attended and recorded four great episodes. This episode features Al, a 12 year volunteer with Boca Raton 9-1-1. He recently turned 95 years old and had much to say about 9-1-1. It was a great conversation! Episode topics - How Al became a volunteer The need for more 9-1-1 public education The need for more 9-1-1 training for dispatchers And much more! As always you can email the show at [email protected] and make sure to listen, share and visit The Cool Kids of 9-1-1 for more on the Mini-C!

Hello everyone! Whitney and I are back again this week with episode 13 of Within the Trenches. A few episodes back we spoke with Cheryl of Yakima, Washington and she was not only a dispatcher but she is part of her centers critical incident stress management (CISM) team. It was an interesting and informative show and since it went so well, we wanted to bring this week's guest on to add to the topic of CISM. This week we spoke with Matt, operations manager of the communications center in Kent County. It's one of our larger areas in western Michigan and he reflected on one of his first emergencies while attending an explorers program as a teenager with a local fire department. He also touched on the importance of CISM and we spoke briefly on a call he helped us out with when we were dealing with a loss of our own. A big thanks goes out to Kent County for allowing us the opportunity to have Matt on the show and to Matt; thank you for everything you do! It's appreciated more than you know. As always you can email us at [email protected] or you can click the black contact button on the left of this page. Thanks and make sure to listen, share and comment!

Good evening everyone! Whitney and I are back with episode 12 of Within the Trenches. We postponed our interview for this week because of some issues I was having with an infected tooth and some minor oral surgery but we pulled through. This weeks episode is a bit longer than the last few but it's definitely worth it. I can tell you that it's amazing and you are really going to dig it! In this episode we share four different 9-1-1 tapes involving the wonders of bees, handcuffs, shrimp fried rice and child discipline. Whitney and I add to the tapes with our expertise and humor so this is a must listen. We also answer a couple listener questions about why we continue to ask questions after we've been given the initial information and what we do if we take a call with a language barrier. We also touch on The Call, a new movie starring Halle Berry where she plays a 9-1-1 operator. A new flash contest is mentioned and we share an excellent deal from Success Communications, Inc. Their conference called 9114911 is coming up in October and it's something you need to check out. When you register make sure to mention Within the Trenches and the offer within this episode and you will get a sweet deal. As always you can email us at [email protected]! 9114911 | Web Team Coco | Halle Berry on CONAN (The Call)

Good afternoon everyone! Whitney and I are back with episode 11 of Within the Trenches. This week we spoke with Cheryl, a dispatcher and Critical Incident Stress Management, (CISM) team member with SunComm in Yakima, WA. This was an interesting episode because we were battling with the Internet, our friend and foe. We dealt with some issues over Skype and the audio was cutting in and out but after some good editing, you can't even tell that anything messed up. Despite the technical difficulties this episode was excellent and Cheryl shared some great stories with us. We touch on PTSD and below you can follow some links that will take you to the articles we mentioned within the show. On behalf of Whitney and I, we thank you for being so open with us and our audience. Personal stories can be hard to share but helping others learn from it is one of our ultimate goals with this show. If you want to reach Cheryl for all things CISM, please send us an email and we will get you in contact with her. Coming up next week, Whitney and I will be doing an episode where we will be doing a Q & A from the listeners, playing 9-1-1 calls, discussing different topics and we will be live on Spreaker! Enjoy the show, share it with all you know and as always, you can email us at [email protected]. Hazards of Being A 9-1-1 Dispatcher | Link Study: 911 Dispatchers Experience PTSD Symptoms Too | Link Green Cross Academy of Traumatology (GCAT) | Link

Good morning everyone I hope you are having an excellent Saturday. This past Wednesday Whitney and I sat down with two different dispatchers to record episodes 10 and 11. This way we can post one this week and post the next this coming Wednesday. It gives us some time to contact more people and come up with new things to do on the show. We are currently working on topic driven episodes with Whitney and I, answering listener questions and we were recently given the green light from Dispatch Magazine On-Line to utilize their library of 9-1-1 tapes. These new in-house episodes will be live and will give a new element to the show. This episode features Brody, a 9-1-1 dispatcher out of Harvey County 911 in Newton, Kansas who adds a little flare to the profession by talking to us about some of his tactical dispatch experience. As always you can email us at [email protected] and if you want to get your hands on some official Within the Trenches merchandise, you can either hit The Jabber Log Store tab above or follow the link below. Also don't forget to check out The Thin Gold Line on Facebook! The Jabber Log Store | Web The Thin Gold Line | Facebook

Good morning! I hope you are ready for a few stories from America’s hat. This week on Within the Trenches, Bobbi of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) joined us for episode 9 over Skype. Her stories and training were not only interesting but if I had started out my dispatching career in her center I might have gone insane. I mean, think about it, “911 where is your emergency?” “I have a bear in my yard!” Or “An avalanche just slammed down in the area!” Yeah…that would have been pretty crazy but I’m sure it would have been fun and an experience to take a call like that. The episode was fully balanced with humor, seriousness, and all around AWESOME! As always you can email us at [email protected] and we are currently seeking sponsors for the show. We are also seeking more people to participate and we do have an open call event on Facebook so make sure to check that out. We are looking for people that bleed dispatch and want to share their experience and story with not only us but also all of our listeners. Sell it to us and let us know why you would be a good choice for the show. Whitney and I firmly believe that everyone has a great story to tell and everyone is important but we are looking for those who really want to be on the show. So this is what you need to do if you want to apply to be on the show. Join/attend our open call Become a fan of Jabber Log on Facebook and send us a message through there with your experience, any memorable stories and why you should be on the show. Oh! And please leave a good email address/contact info in case we are unable to reach you through Facebook. In the end, it’s all about you, the unsung hero’s of emergency services. It’s your story and we want to help tell it. Make sure to listen, share and if you would like to learn more about the RCMP and a new Facebook page that highlights the 9-1-1 dispatchers of Canada, please follow the links below. Without further ado, I present to you the ninth episode of Within the Trenches. Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Web Radio Angels Canada | Facebook

Hello everyone! Whitney and I are back with episode 8 for our back to back episodes week of Within the Trenches. In this episode we chat with Dan, Director of Chilton County E9-1-1 in Alabama. Our topic of discussion takes us back to April 27 2011 when a swarm of tornadoes destroyed the surrounding area. Dan has a very extensive background in emergency services so it was very interesting to get his feedback and explanation on certain topics. We even touched on how an area in Montana and the upper peninsula of Michigan suffered a problem when their respective EAS systems were hacked to express and warn of the dangers of a zombie uprising. Can you imagine going through that? This episode was definitely informative and in good fun. For more information on Chilton County E9-1-1 follow the links below and stay tuned for next weeks episode when we chat with Bobbi, a dispatcher with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Chilton County E9-1-1 | Web | Facebook | Twitter

Good evening folks! Whitney and I are back again with 1 of 2 new episodes of Within the Trenches. This week we Skype’d with Joshua of West Bloomfield Township PD in Michigan. The topic of this episode is one of great importance. No dispatcher or anyone out in the field ever wants to hear, “Shots fired. Officer down,” but it’s something that some of us have heard throughout our years of duty. If you’ve ever dealt with this then you know that a debriefing or speaking to your peers will help move on for the most part. Joshua shares a story with us that will pull at the strings of your emotions. Thank you very much for sharing this with us and helping others get through tough times. Also within this episode a great organization is mentioned. The organization is MI-C.O.P.S., which stands for Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors. According to their official website, “Reaching out to survivors and co-workers, Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors (MI-C.O.P.S.), an all volunteer organization, is a chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose sole purpose is to provide support to surviving law enforcement families and co-workers in rebuilding their lives after the traumatic and life-changing experience of losing an officer in the line of duty.” For more information on this organization please follow the link below. This episode will show you that so much more happens after the call. We build a bond with our brothers and sisters out in the field and we thank you for all you do. For our brothers and sisters answering the call, a salute to you and everyone who has ever dealt with a fallen officer while on duty. On behalf of Whitney and I, we thank Joshua once again for this episode. Godspeed Officer Patrick O’Rourke, your brothers and sisters will take it from here. MI-C.O.P.S. | Web

Good evening folks! Whitney and I are back with episode 6 of Within the Trenches. This week was a little different for us in the sense that we were pretty slap happy up until the beginning of the show. Crystal and Jen, of Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority, joined us to tell their story and experience in 9-1-1. All four of us work the night shift and for Whitney and I, we worked from 4:30 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. As for Crystal and Jen, they both worked from 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. so we had a few hours to kill after our shift. As you can tell we are all crazy for staying up but for anyone who works night shift you have to be just a little crazy to do what we do and work the hours we work. As Whitney and I waited for them to arrive we worked on our mic checks and I wish I would have kept the recording for bloopers because we were so out of it from lack of sleep that we began to sing and display our beatbox abilities. The entire episode was a great experience and getting the chance to meet those from a neighboring dispatch center really helped us understand why they do certain things. One of the funny things we had to find out was why they never use their first name when answering the phone. It made for an ongoing joke and continued the relaxed yet informative feel of the show. Thank you once again to Crystal and Jen for joining us and I hope everyone enjoys this episode. As always you can reach us at [email protected] or simply click the contact button on the left of the screen. If you want to learn more about Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority, follow the link below for their official website. Also, a big shout out goes to Daniel of Nighttime Dispatch Radio. He plays the tunes that keep you awake all night in order to get you through your shift. You can find him at the links below and make sure to ‘Like’ his Facebook page and tell him that Jabber Log sent you. Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority | Web Nighttime Dispatch Radio | Web | Facebook