Dispatchers Issued Service Citation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 2013

CONTACT:  Megan Silverstrim, Department of Public Safety

                        717.218.2913

 Three Cumberland County Dispatchers Recognized

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania- During today’s Cumberland County Board of Commissioners’ Meeting, three 9-1-1 dispatchers were recognized with a Cumberland County Department of Public Safety (DPS) Service Citation.  The quick and efficient actions of Dispatchers Molly Baker, Ron Bouch and Benjamin Thumma assisted in the apprehension of a murder suspect in Lower Allen Township.

On January 5, 2013, Dispatcher Thumma answered a 9-1-1 phone call from an individual from out of the area who stated that he wanted to turn himself in for a murder he committed the previous day in Iva, South Carolina.  Thumma worked to determine the location of the caller, the location of the victim in South Carolina and ascertained that the suspect had a gun in his vehicle.  Thumma then began giving the caller instructions, so that a peaceful apprehension would take place upon the arrival of police.  While Thumma remained on the line with the caller, Dispatcher Baker alerted Lower Allen Police of the situation and relayed detailed information, including the fact that the suspect was armed to the officers.  Dispatcher Bouch worked to locate the Iva Police Department contact information and quickly called to alert authorities of the reported murder in their jurisdiction.  Bouch remained on the line until the Iva Police arrived to the home of the reported victim and confirmed a deceased individual was found at the house.  Bouch relayed Lower Allen Police’s contact information to the Iva authorities so that the two agencies could coordinate their initial investigation. 

DPS Service Citations are reserved for individuals who during an event that rises above the normal conduct of business, have contributed significantly to the outcome of an event through appropriate intervention, assistance or influence.  For more information on DPS and the citation program, visit www.ccpa.net/publicsafety.

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20 Years of EMD POSTPONED

The EMD 20 year anniversary program that was scheduled for February 5th has been postponed.  A new date will be announced next week. 

Celebrating 20 Years of EMD

December 17, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:     Megan Silverstrim, Cumberland County

                        717.729.7019

Cumberland County 9-1-1 Celebrates 20 Years of

Life Saving Medical Protocol

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania– In 2013 Cumberland County Department of Public Safety (DPS) will celebrate 20 years of Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD).  EMD is a nationally recognized program that relies on a series of standardized questions and instructions that provide dispatchers with a consistent approach to medical emergencies.  With EMD, dispatchers are able to determine caller location, nature of the emergency, triage the emergency and determine the seriousness of the incident.  With this information dispatchers can then determine the appropriate response, as well as offer pre-arrival medical instructions to the caller.

In 1993, Cumberland County Department of Public Safety played an integral part in introducing the life saving program to the 8 counties that comprise the Emergency Health Services Federation (EHSF). The mission of EHSF is to develop, maintain and improve the EMS system within the 8 county region. Cumberland County was the first in EHSF to actually adopt the program.  At the time EMD was a contentious concept but 20 years later all 8 counties in the region utilize the life saving protocol. 

All Cumberland County 9-1-1 dispatchers are EMD certified through a 32 hour course when hired.  Dispatchers must obtain continuing education credits and retest for their certification every two years.  Since its inception, dispatchers have successfully navigated callers through the steps to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), child birth and a variety of other medical conditions.  On February 5th, DPS will officially mark this 20 year anniversary with an interactive program that will be open to the public.  For more information on Cumberland County 9-1-1, visit www.ccpa.net/publicsafety                                                                    

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Cumberland and Dauphin 9-1-1 Collaboration

December 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:    Megan Silverstrim, Cumberland County

                        717.729.7019

Cumberland & Dauphin County 9-1-1 Collaboration

Assistances in HACC Assault Case

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania– The quick and thorough actions of a 9-1-1 dispatcher is often the first step to a successful police investigation and the recent abduction and assault that began on the Harrisburg Area Community College campus is a prime example.  Dispatchers from Dauphin and Cumberland County worked together to obtain vital information that aided officers in the initial moments of the incident and provided assistance to the victim until first responders arrived.     

                                                                                                         

This incident began in Dauphin County, and the initial 9-1-1 call was routed to Dauphin.  The Dauphin dispatcher realized the victim was in fact in Cumberland County and quickly patched the call to Cumberland 9-1-1.  Dispatchers from both counties remained on the line working diligently to calm the victim and determine her location, as she was unfamiliar with her surroundings.  With information received from the victim, dispatchers were also able to contact PennDot, to obtain a more detailed vehicle description and license plate number for the vehicle the suspect was to be traveling in. 

This “across the river collaboration” is not a rare event, but rather a daily occurrence as crime knows no boundaries and incidents occur requiring the assistance of resources from both Dauphin and Cumberland County.  This partnership involves various technological elements allowing the collaboration between both 9-1-1 centers to occur in an efficient and impactful manner.  For details on Dauphin County 9-1-1visit www.dauphincounty.org/government/EMA-911.  For more information on Cumberland County 9-1-1 visit www.ccpa.net/publicsafety.

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Beware of Disaster Fraud and Scammers

Anytime a disaster happens, you can be sure that instances of fraud and scams will increase.  Below are some tips from the folks at FEMA to help you protect yourself as you recovery from Sandy!

• There is never a fee to apply for FEMA disaster assistance or to receive it. 
• There is no fee for FEMA or U.S. Small Business Administration property damage inspections. 
• The only ways to register for FEMA help are to call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Or visit m.fema.gov from a smartphone or Web-enabled device.
• Government workers will never ask for a fee or payment. They wear a photo ID. Watch out for middle men who promise you will receive money, especially if they ask for an up-front payment.
• Get three written estimates for repair work. Then check credentials and contact your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce to learn about any complaints against the contractor or business.
• Before work begins, make sure you get a written contract detailing all the work to be performed, the costs, a projected completion date, and how to negotiate changes and settle disputes. 
• Make sure the contract clearly states who will obtain the necessary permits. Consider having a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved. Keep a copy of the signed contract. 
• If the contractor provides any guarantees, they should be written into the contract clearly, stating what is guaranteed, who is responsible for the guarantee and how long the guarantee is valid. 
• Pay only by check or a credit card. A reasonable down payment may be required to buy materials for some projects, but don't pay anything without a signed contract. 

Cumberland County DPS is here to help you as you recovery from any damage that resulted from Sandy.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

County Departments Close

October 29, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:    Cumberland County Commissioners’ Office

                        717.2470.6150

Cumberland County Closes Offices

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania– The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has announced that the Cumberland County Departments will be closing at noon and will remain closed tomorrow.  Commissioners will meet at 2:00 pm today as scheduled for a brief meeting, after which the Courthouse will be officially closed.

Cumberland County is experiencing flooding and high winds associated with “Sandy.”  Stay tuned to media reports for continued weather and flooding updates as well as other emergency information.  Cumberland County Department of Public Safety will also be posting updates via Facebook (www.facebook.com/cumberlandcountydps) and Twitter (ccpa_net_dps911).

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Cumberland County Commissioners Declare Disaster Emergency

October 29, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:    Megan Silverstrim, Cumberland County

                        717.218.2804

Cumberland County Declares Disaster Emergency As “Sandy” Moves Through Pennsylvania

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania– The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners has signed a Disaster Emergency Declaration for Cumberland County.  This declaration is pursuant to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code.  

This declaration authorizes the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety to take all appropriate actions needed to effectively mitigate and respond to the current disaster situation.  This declaration also allows Cumberland County officials to purchase needed supplies, employ temporary workers and enter into contracts and agreements with vendors without the “time- consuming procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law.” 

Cumberland County is experiencing flooding and high winds associated with “Sandy.”  Stay tuned to media reports for continued weather and flooding updates as well as other emergency information.  Cumberland County Department of Public Safety will also be posting updates via Facebook (www.facebook.com/cumberlandcountydps) and Twitter (ccpa_net_dps911).

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