Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, Millburn, and Springfield, New Jersey, announced Tuesday the creation of a Community Outreach & Public Education Team.

The purpose of MVECC's Community Outreach & Public Education Team will be to accomplish exactly what the name of the team suggests - to ensure members of the communities MVECC serves and those wishing to learn more about the 9-1-1 system have a go-to resource for education and awareness. 

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar added:

"While most are aware 9-1-1 is the number to call when experiencing an emergency, those fortunate enough to not have dialed those three numbers in such a situation may not be fully aware of what to expect when the time comes to make that call. Our Community Outreach & Public Education Team strives to provide the public with the right information about the 9-1-1 system, explaining how the emergency call intake process works, the questions asked during that process, and what we do with the information collected to make sure the help someone needs gets sent as quickly as possible. I would also like to invite public and private education providers in our communities to reach out about 9-1-1 informational sessions in an academic setting at all grade levels. Presentations can be tailored for the audience we're speaking with, covering a variety of subject matter. All Community Outreach & Public Education presentations are provided at no charge to the community."

To schedule a 9-1-1 presentation or to discuss 9-1-1 educational offerings for your organization, e-mail info@npsm911.org or call 908.263.7550

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, Millburn, and Springfield, New Jersey, announced Monday that three of their team members will be receiving awards from APCO Atlantic Chapter during the organization's 2021 Annual Conference in October. 

Communications Officer I Brittany Guerriero has been awarded Telecommunicator of the Year

Communications Officer II/CTOi Michael Mollo has been awarded Trainer of the Year

Deputy Director Keely Heyman, ENP has been awarded Director of the Year

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar stated:

"We have such a wonderful work family at Mountain Valley. I am so incredibly proud of Brittany, Michael, and Keely, as each of them exemplify the wonderful work ethic and can-do attitude of our entire team. It is truly an honor and a privilege working alongside these professionals every day, keeping our community and public safety partners safe. Congratulations team - you've earned this."

APCO Atlantic Chapter officials advised this is the first time an award recipient has been from the State of New Jersey.

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, Millburn, and Springfield, New Jersey, joined fellow members of the public safety community recently at events in New Providence and Summit, with a focus on public education. 

On May 22, 2021, Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar joined New Providence Police Chief Gazaway and other members of the New Providence public safety team at the Community Pool on Springfield Avenue to discuss Operation Blue Guardian and to sign up members of the New Providence community for Smart911 - a free service which allows residents to provide critical life saving information to first responders. 

On July 14, 2021, Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, Deputy Director Keely Heyman, Training/QA-QI Coordinator Sarah Nasto, and Communications Officers Ron Guidetti III and John Wassman attended Emergency Services Community Day at Soldiers Memorial Field in Summit. The event, sponsored by the City of Summit and the Summit Police Department featured a variety of public safety educational sessions with members of the Summit public safety team. 

Executive Director DeMar stated:

"MVECC has a wonderful relationship with its public safety partners. Attending these events in New Providence and Summit is a wonderful way to demonstrate the team environment that exists between all of the public safety disciplines. More importantly, it gives our 9-1-1 and emergency communications professionals the ability to interact directly with the public we serve, answer questions, and explain the 9-1-1 process. The community should absolutely have access to the public safety professionals who serve them, and these events are a wonderful way  to facilitate that interaction. Enjoyed seeing everyone!"

If a member of the Summit, New Providence, Millburn, or Springfield community is interested in having a member of the MVECC team come out to provide an educational session on 9-1-1, send us an e-mail at info@npsm911.org 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, Nlic ew Jersey, is proud to announce that as of 700AM this morning, 9-1-1 calls originating in Springfield Township are now being answered by MVECC. MVECC is also providing emergency dispatch services to Springfield Fire Department and Springfield First Aid Squad.  

Geographically situated in Northern New Jersey, Springfield Township has a population of approximately 18,000 residents. With the transition to MVECC, Springfield Fire Department and Springfield First Aid Squad become the tenth and eleventh public safety entities respectively to join the emergency communications center since its establishment in 2014.

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, is proud to announce that Deputy Director Keely Heyman has been accepted into APCO International's Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program. 

APCO’s Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program is designed to elevate professionalism, enhance individual performance and recognize excellence in the public safety communications industry. Participants may be managers, supervisors, agency executives or others whose work and life experiences have motivated them to learn the necessary skills to successfully lead organizations within the complex and ever-changing environment in which public safety agencies operate. 

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP shared the following: 

"I was thrilled to learn of Deputy Director Heyman's acceptance into the CPE program. As APCO's flagship academic offering for professional development and leadership, I look forward to hearing about Keely's experience in the program. With many years in the emergency communications profession, Keely brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and will most certainly be an active contributor in her class. I wish Keely and her CPE 11 classmates the very best. Congratulations."

Deputy Director Heyman will begin her CPE studies on July 1, 2021. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, recognized the work of 9-1-1 personnel at the center this week during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2021. 

This event, which occurs the second week of April every year, honors and celebrates the work of our nation’s emergency communications professionals. 

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP, stated “Every year, community members, public safety providers, elected officials, and 911 center leaders take a moment during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to reach out to emergency communications personnel throughout the country and say thank you. This week of recognition is special for me in that it is my first with MVECC, having joined the agency as Executive Director less than a year ago. I am extremely proud of the many professional team members who work tirelessly throughout the year to answer the 9-1-1 calls of our residents and visitors and who work directly with our public safety partners to help keep our communities safe.” 

Every year during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, MVECC presents several awards to its team members. This year’s award recipients are as follows:

Telecommunicator of the Year – Brittany Guerriero (Dispatcher)

Executive Director’s Award for Excellence– Michael Mollo (Dispatcher/CTO Instructor)

Exceptional Service Award – Keely L. Heyman, ENP (Deputy Director) 

Commendation Award (CPR Save) – Sarah B. Nasto (Training/QA-QI Coordinator)

Commendation Award (CPR Save) – Rachel Weil (Dispatcher)

In addition, Team Awards were presented to the entire MVECC staff for their response to and work during Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020 and for their continued work as essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Several of MVECC’s public safety partners shared in the festivities with varying tokens of appreciation. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces that Shift Supervisor/CO III William Griffin has been accepted into APCO's Registered Public Safety Leader or "RPL" program. Shift Supervisor Griffin will begin his yearlong course of study in May 2021.

APCO International’s Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) Program is designed for individuals interested in developing a solid foundation of management and supervisory skills necessary for successful PSAP operations.  The first five of the six online RPL courses focus on aspects of managing and supervising that are vital to leading successful teams. The sixth course provides the opportunity for RPL candidates to put their knowledge and skills to use in a service project that benefits our industry.   

To be accepted into the program, applicants must be an APCO International member in good standing with a demonstrated record of service to the association and industry. Applicants must be willing and able to commit to completing and critiquing the program requirement, and must be dedicated to accepting the challenge of ongoing professional development and service for the betterment of public safety communications.

Registered Public-Safety Leaders are required to recertify every 4 years.  

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP, shared the following message on April 11th, the first day of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2021:

"On this, the first day of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2021, I would like to thank the wonderful 9-1-1 professionals who work tirelessly at MVECC every day to ensure our community members and public safety partners are safe. These public safety specialists, your heroes behind the headset, answer the calls of those in need, often at the very worst time in someone's life. They perform this duty on a daily basis, call after call, dispatch after dispatch, ensuring those in need have their call for help answered in seconds. Immediately thereafter, they convey that critical information to our public safety partners, ensuring a timely response. I am so incredibly proud of the entire MVECC Team and of their commitment to continually helping those in need, when every second counts. To my entire team, Happy National  Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2021 - you all make a difference in so many lives every day." 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces the creation of a contract services agreement with Springfield Township, New Jersey to provide 9-1-1 services to all Springfield Township residents and businesses and emergency dispatching services for Springfield Fire Department and Springfield First Aid Squad. 

On or about June 1, 2021, MVECC will begin answering all wireless and wireline 9-1-1 calls originating in Springfield Township. Through a contract services agreement, Springfield Township 9-1-1 calls for law enforcement assistance will be transferred directly to the Springfield Police Department, while calls for Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) assistance will be processed and dispatched by MVECC personnel. 

“MVECC is proud to be partnering with Springfield Township to provide essential 9-1-1 and emergency dispatching services to members of their community,” MVECC Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP said. “As our public safety agencies already work together on a regular basis to support critical life saving and fire suppression efforts, having Springfield Township Fire and EMS resources dispatched by MVECC will only serve to improve the level of service residents receive, while enhancing the safety of first responders at an incident scene.”

Scott Seidel, Springfield Township Emergency Management Coordinator, said "We are pleased to finally be able to utilize Mountain Valley Communications for our Fire & EMS dispatch services.  We have been working on this project to enhance the safety of our residents and first responders for over two years and are pleased it is finally happening."

Geographically situated in Northern New Jersey, Springfield Township has a population of approximately 18,000 residents. With the transition to MVECC, Springfield Fire Department and Springfield First Aid Squad become the tenth and eleventh public safety entities respectively to join the emergency communications center since its establishment in 2014. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces the certification of Communications Officer II/CTO Michael Mollo as APCO International Communications Training Officer Instructor. CO II/CTO Mollo becomes the first MVECC Team Member to earn this prestigious agency training certification from APCO. 

Training/QA-QI Coordinator Nasto stated:

"The foundation for a successful dispatching career is the training you receive your first few months on the job. Having Michael as our long standing CTO I always know he’s doing an outstanding job helping our newest hires through the process. He is incredibly patient, professional, creative and thoughtful. He strives to make sure everyone he trains knows as much as possible so that they become a valued member of the dispatch team. We are extremely fortunate to have Michael on our team and this certification will ensure that he continues to build up our future dispatchers to be the best out there. I couldn’t be prouder to have Michael as part of the training team."

Deputy Director Heyman stated: 

"Michael has proven to be an incredibly patient, knowledgeable and highly-motivating instructor. Already having these skills inherently, adding this CTO-Instructor certification means Michael can train our people to do the same effectively and efficiently, and provide a higher standard within our training program. I could not be more proud of Michael for taking the steps to further his knowledge base as an instructor."

Executive Director DeMar added:

"Training is a mission-critical component of any successful emergency communications center. Michael's instructional efforts on the Operations Floor are already well respected and appreciated. His certification as an APCO CTO Instructor further solidifies the importance of his role at Mountain Valley, in that he is now able to take an even more active role in the training of our future CTO's. Having a CTO Instructor in-house with personal knowledge of our center's needs, as well as the needs of our community and first-responder partners ensures our training program will be much more comprehensive and effective."  

Michael's certification is valid for a period of two years, after which he will need to recertify. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces the roll-out of Uber’s In-App Emergency feature with the RapidSOS Portal Jurisdiction View feature, allowing drivers or riders feeling unsafe during an Uber trip in any one of MVECC’s three communities to notify 9-1-1 of a problem directly through the Uber app.

MVECC initially partnered with RapidSOS in August of 2020 to leverage the Jurisdiction View capability, allowing MVECC personnel to seamlessly access critical location information and additional data from a 9-1-1 caller during an emergency. Now, a driver or passenger contacting 9-1-1 during an Uber ride using the In-App Emergency feature can automatically send an accurate location of the Uber vehicle, along with make, model and license plate information directly to the emergency dispatcher’s screen, without them needing to request the information.  

“Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center is leading the way in 9-1-1 technology to improve emergency response” said RapidSOS Senior Director of Public Safety, Karin Marquez. “We are thrilled to recognize the agency as RapidSOS Ready and provide its call-takers and dispatchers with the information they need to get citizens help quickly in an emergency.” 

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP added “Ridesharing platforms like Uber have become a preferred method of commuting for many. While the nation saw a slowing of ridesharing during the pandemic, we can expect to see an uptick in the need for these services as COVID restrictions are relaxed. By enabling Uber’s In-App Emergency feature for Summit, New Providence, and Millburn, MVECC joins a select group of 9-1-1 Centers across the country who have taken a proactive approach in keeping residents and visitors using Uber in their communities safe.”

Riders and drivers can access the safety toolkit by tapping the shield icon on their Uber app’s map screen. After tapping the 911 Assistance feature, you will see your GPS location, car make and model, and license plate. If you tap the “Call 911” button and connect to an emergency dispatcher, those trip details become available to them digitally and can be used to respond to an emergency. Uber’s customer support team will follow up with a check-in.

For more information on the Uber In-App Emergency feature, visit www.uber.com 

For more information on RapidSOS, visit www.rapidsos.com 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC),   

a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces plans to implement “EmergencyLocate”, an online enhancement tool for MVECC’s recently implemented what3words location identification platform. MVECC is the first public safety answering point in the country to operationalize EmergencyLocate.

Developed in the United Kingdom (UK), EmergencyLocate works in concert with the what3words application to gather and share location data with 9-1-1 dispatchers in real time, without the caller needing to verbally provide their location. EmergencyLocate is currently in use in the UK and in Canada and provides three tiers of service to its customers. The first tier or “Free Tier” is available to 9-1-1 and emergency communications centers at no charge, while the “Basic Tier” and “Enhanced Tier” are available for a nominal charge. A programming interface is also available for Computer Aided Dispatch and Telephony integrations. 

EmergencyLocate founder and developer Nick Sutton stated “It is a hugely exciting time to be working with Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center, the very first 911 ECC in the United States to make use of our functionality. Emergency call handling around the world is a critical and difficult role and by bringing a modern solution to MVECC’s staff that is built with real-world knowledge of the sector, I hope to be able to make their job a little easier. Doing so will improve 911 caller safety, response times, and help safeguard the mental health of 911 dispatchers who desperately need access to the best tools to be able to do their jobs effectively."

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP added “We are excited to be working with Nick and the EmergencyLocate team to bring additional critical caller location capability into our center. When a person experiencing an emergency is not able to confirm their exact location for our 9-1-1 professionals, and conventional location determination technology is not an option, EmergencyLocate gives our dispatchers an alternative means of determining the caller’s exact location, even if the caller isn’t able to convey the information verbally.”

MVECC expects to begin testing EmergencyLocate in January with implementation to occur shortly thereafter. More information on EmergencyLocate can be found by visiting the website at https://emergencylocate.co.uk/ 

Persons experiencing an emergency should always call 9-1-1 first.  

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces the implementation of Motorola Solutions CommandCentral Citizen Input, an application which will allow 9-1-1 callers to send pictures and video or “Incident Related Imagery” from an emergency scene to first responders through the 9-1-1 system. MVECC is the first public safety answering point in the state and the first in the northeastern part of the nation to operationalize this new public safety solution.

“Mountain Valley Emergency Communications is a true leader among public safety agencies,” said Lynne Houserman, vice president, Emergency Call Handling, Software Enterprise, Motorola Solutions. “CommandCentral Citizen Input is a brand-new service from Motorola Solutions; Mountain Valley Emergency Communications is an early adopter among 9-1-1 agencies in the Northeast and the first to implement it in New Jersey since its recent release. By deploying CommandCentral Citizen Input, MVECC is providing their citizens with a lifeline, enabling them to quickly provide 9-1-1 call takers with images, streaming video or recordings through a cloud-based service so that the call takers have added information to inform their decision-making and expedite a safe response to the event.”

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP added “Since the very first 9-1-1 call was made over fifty years ago, emergency communications professionals have relied on 9-1-1 callers to provide emergency information verbally. While our nation’s 9-1-1 professionals do a wonderful job determining the nature of a problem based solely on what they are hearing, advances in technology and in the wireless devices many people carry now permits callers to send images and video directly from an emergency scene to 9-1-1 and first responders. Motorola’s CommandCentral Citizen Input will for the very first time, allow MVECC’s 9-1-1 professionals to receive Incident Related Imagery (pictures and video) from a 9-1-1 caller and relay it accordingly to our public safety partners responding to an emergency. A true game-changer for the 9-1-1 profession.”

MVECC expects delivery and initial testing of the CommandCentral Citizen Input application to occur in January 2021, with staff training and implementation to follow. Since the visual component of 9-1-1 call processing is a completely new initiative for the emergency communications profession, MVECC has created an Incident Related Imagery (IRI) workgroup consisting of several frontline dispatch personnel, who will work closely with MVECC’s Leadership Team to develop policies and procedures for the use of this technology.

Persons experiencing an emergency should always call 9-1-1 first.  

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces the adoption and implementation of “what3words” location identification technology. MVECC is the first public safety answering point in the state and the first in the northeastern part of the nation to operationalize this groundbreaking location identification tool.

London-based technology company what3words started the rollout of its innovative location technology to Emergency Services in the UK and South Africa in 2019, and Australia and Canada in 2020. What3words has been used thousands of times to find people needing help. Using what3words addresses gives callers a simple way to describe precisely where help is needed and allows emergency response crews to get resources straight to the scene.

Chris Sheldrick, CEO of what3words says “Every month, people all around the world struggle to communicate their location to emergency services. This leads to crucial minutes and sometimes hours lost when trying to save lives. It’s exciting to hear that Mountain Valley Emergency Communications is the first emergency communications center to start using what3words in New Jersey, and we are looking forward to working with them as they embrace new technologies, like ours, to help save lives.”

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP added “In an emergency, knowing where to send help is of utmost importance. Since emergencies can occur anywhere, if a person experiencing a problem in an obscure location is unable to provide accurate address information to one of our 9-1-1 dispatchers, using what3words technology, MVECC’s emergency communications professionals can enter a unique three word sequence (provided by the 9-1-1 caller) into the application, which in turn displays a precise location for the caller. When conventional emergency location measures are not possible, the what3words application will be an ideal resource for our 9-1-1 professionals and will most certainly save precious time when it comes to locating a person experiencing an emergency in our community.”

The application works by using the pre-downloaded app on a smart device when someone calls 9-1-1, or by having MVECC send the caller a text message with a link to click which gives the caller the assigned words of their location, which can then be provided to the 9-1-1 dispatcher. 

MVECC expects internal testing and training to be completed by December 18, 2020, with go-live scheduled shortly thereafter. The what3words app is free and available to download for iOS and Android. Persons experiencing an emergency should always call 9-1-1 first.

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, proudly announces that two members of its Leadership Team have attained the certification and well-respected industry credential of Emergency Number Professional or “ENP”. 

MVECC Team Members who passed the ENP examination and earned certification are:

Keely Heyman, ENP – Deputy Director

William Griffin, ENP – Shift Supervisor/Communications Officer III

Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP, added:

“The emergency communications profession is changing at a remarkable pace. Where in years past our professionals relied solely on emergency information obtained during a 9-1-1 call to provide assistance to someone in need, persons needing fire, police, or medical assistance today can communicate with America’s emergency communications centers in a variety of ways. Studying and understanding the operational, administrative, and technical information associated with our profession is mission-critical for any leader in the 9-1-1 space. I am extremely proud of Keely and William, and I congratulate both for earning this prestigious industry credential.” 

Deputy Director Heyman and Shift Supervisor Griffin become only the 13th and 14th emergency communications professionals (respectively) to earn ENP certification in the State of New Jersey. 

Established by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) in 1992, the ENP certification program is designed to establish a comprehensive body of knowledge for emergency communications professionals, promote a standard of competence, ensure awareness of current issues and developments in the 9-1-1 profession, and encourage professional growth and development among up and coming public safety leaders. To obtain ENP certification, candidates must meet strict eligibility requirements and have the appropriate amount of experience, education, and professional service before being allowed to participate in the certification examination. Once awarded, ENP certification is valid for a period of four years, after which the awardee may participate in the exam again or use a combination of experience, education, and personal service in the profession to generate enough points to re-certify.

Our team members have been hard at work putting together Mountain Valley's entry for the New Providence 2020 Scarecrow Contest. 

You can view our spook-tacular "Zombie Dispatcher" in person near the intersection of Springfield Avenue and Academy St, across from the Municipal Building, or by visiting our Facebook page at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/MVECC911/photos/pcb.199687894866169/199687811532844

Happy Halloween everyone!

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) is proud to announce the promotion of MVECC Communications Officer I David Geraghty to the position of Communications Officer II/Communications Training Officer.  David's career with Mountain Valley began in May 2016. In 2018, he became the President of the local FMBA chapter serving the center. David has been involved in public safety for many years, working as an EMT since 2003, and is also a trained firefighter. 

Executive Director DeMar added:

"David's public safety background, combined with his call taking and dispatch experience at the center makes him an excellent addition to the training team at Mountain Valley. Our CO II's work closely with the Training & QA Coordinator to develop the call taking and dispatch curriculum new MVECC team members will receive, and serve as the primary point of contact to our newly appointed personnel for "all-things" training. I am pleased to be moving David into this critical role for our center."

David will assume his new CO II/CTO responsibilities on November 1, 2020. 

A little late on our entry, however our Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) team members are hard at work assembling our official MVECC scarecrow! 

Looking spook-tacular!

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) is proud to announce the promotion of MVECC Communications Training Officer/Communications Officer II Jaclyn Lemons to the position of Shift Supervisor. 

Jaclyn's emergency communications career started in 2009, when she began dispatching for Cranford Police. She transferred to Mountain Valley when the center opened in July 2015 and has been with the MVECC dispatch team ever since. Jaclyn completed undergraduate studies with Kean University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree. 

Executive Director DeMar added:

"As Executive Director, it is wonderful to be able to promote team members from within. The Shift Supervisor role is mission critical on so many levels, but most importantly because it directly supports the life-saving efforts of our FIRST first responders. Jaclyn's passion and drive for the profession is readily apparent in her work and I am excited to be elevating her to this vitally important leadership position on our team."

Jaclyn will assume her new Shift Supervisor responsibilities on December 4, 2020.

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) is proud to announce the appointment/promotion of MVECC Shift Supervisor/Communications Officer III Sarah B. Nasto to the newly created position of Training & Quality Assurance Coordinator. 

Sarah has been with MVECC since its inception. She was hired into the center as one of four shift supervisors after working 10 years with the Summit Fire Department (SFD). Sarah spent her time at SFD working on numerous committees, assisting with the accreditation process, and served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for 12 years. Her time spent responding to emergencies gives her an added sense of what first responders need and have come to expect from those working behind the headset at MVECC . During her time at Mountain Valley, Sarah has committed herself to running a seamless shift, updating policies and procedures, providing a wealth of jurisdictional knowledge, and continuing her training. Sarah is looking forward to establishing a training program at MVECC to ensure every resident and responder in the communities we serve receives the highest level of customer service. When she is not working, Sarah spends time with her husband and two children.

Executive Director DeMar added:

"I am extremely proud of Sarah's leadership at MVECC, as well as her commitment to public safety on a personal and professional level. Her promotion into this vital position for Mountain Valley exemplifies her willingness to serve, dedication to team, and an eagerness to see our organization and team members thrive. We're extremely fortunate to be promoting someone who not only has a great deal of operational experience, but has also been with MVECC since the very beginning. Deputy DIrector Heyman and I look forward to working closely with Sarah to develop MVECC's Training and Quality Assurance Program, and to welcoming her to the Senior Leadership Team."

Sarah will assume her new responsibilities on October 19, 2020.

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar, MA, CPE, ENP was selected to be a member of a subject matter expert panel discussing Cybersecurity measures for 9-1-1 during the International Association of Chiefs of Police 2020 (IACP2020) Conference. 

The IACP2020 Education Session titled "Protecting your 911 System from Cyber Attacks" featured a panel-style discussion with members of the Department of Homeland Security's SAFECOM Initiative, which is managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). These members, who are also part of SAFECOM's Next Generation 9-1-1 Working Group, spoke on a variety of high-level topics relating to cyber protection and preventative measures in the 9-1-1 and emergency communications space. 

Executive Director DeMar offered the following:

"As the hub of public safety with a variety of networks and connected technologies in operation, it is vital for 9-1-1 and emergency communications centers to be practicing excellent cyber-hygiene while protecting critical systems. I was pleased to be a part of IACP2020 with fellow members of our DHS SAFECOM Next Generation 9-1-1 Working Group, discussing important Cybersecurity related subject matter with our law enforcement partners. Thank you IACP for asking us to be a part of your 2020 Educational offering." 

Due to COVID-19 which resulted in IACP2020 being a virtual conference, the panel discussion was recorded and will be available to registrants during and following IACP2020. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) reflected this morning on the horrific events which unfolded in our nation nineteen years ago today. 

Executive Director DeMar shared the following:

"The reasons we remember this solemn anniversary each year are numerous and personal. For those of us in the public safety community, the tremendous loss of life of our fellow first responders makes the day even more painful to recall. Though these events occurred nineteen years ago, the images of that day remain incredibly vivid in the hearts and minds of many. On behalf of the many 9-1-1 professionals of MVECC who serve the citizens and public safety partners of our community, I extend our heartfelt condolences to those still grieving the loss of a loved one that fateful day. We will never forget."

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) is proud to announce a partnership with "The Public Safety Group" to provide monthly in-service, online, and virtual in-person training to MVECC Team Members. 

Incorporated in 1994, The Public Safety Group (TPSG) specializes in providing emergency communications and dispatcher focused training to public safety professionals nationwide. To meet the needs of MVECC and its public safety professionals, TPSG's initial offering will include a monthly in-service training program ("When Seconds Count"), as well as access to TPSG's "Training on Demand" program. Both of these programs are designed to supplement and enhance the training program currently in place at MVECC.

From The Public Safety Group President and Founder Tony Harrison:

"The Public Safety Group is honored to be working with Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center in providing them with world class training. With a focus on the training of 9-1-1 professionals, we're pleased to be a part of Mountain Valley's training program, and to helping the center deliver the highest level of service to the community they serve."   

Executive Director DeMar stated:

"Training is vital to every organization. Like many organization's however, MVECC has had to adapt to a changing landscape as it pertains to in-service training and conventional classroom instruction, in response to COVID-19. By partnering with The Public Safety Group, MVECC is able to offer online, on-demand, and virtual in-person instruction to our team members, with content tailored specifically to emergency communications professionals. Having Tony's company working with us as we continue to develop a top-notch training and quality assurance program is a progressive and forward-thinking step in the right direction for the entire Mountain Valley team."

The Public Safety Group Program is expected to begin late September/early October 2020. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) announces the creation of the Mountain Valley Public Safety Communications Workgroup. 

Consisting of operational team members from MVECC and the public safety partner agencies it serves, the workgroup will meet periodically with an emphasis on discussing and addressing technology-based operational gaps and improving communications interoperability system-wide. The workgroup will feature guest speakers, participant driven presentations, and discussions on new and evolving technologies. New business and new ideas for improving the public safety communications service offering will be encouraged, as will input from a variety of operational personnel, in the interest of promoting idea-sharing from all levels of public safety.

Executive Director DeMar added:

"Communication and collaboration is vital in any organization. As the hub of public safety in the communities we serve, it is important for MVECC's staff to work closely with our public safety partners to ensure interoperable policies and practices are current and effective. In addition, as technology evolves and new public safety solutions emerge, this work group will be instrumental in bridging the gap between awareness and implementation."    

Deputy Director Heyman shared the following:

"I am extremely happy to be taking part in a workgroup which allows a collaborative effort from all the agencies we serve. While there are goals important to the organization administratively, work in this area can cast a shadow on the needs of the operational side. I am excited to allow the voices of those who serve in the field of public safety a forum to express their objectives and goals and I am hopeful our efforts in this workgroup will greatly improve our relationships throughout. Imagine what these joint efforts will do for the communities we serve?"

The first workgroup meeting will occur in late September. 

Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC) announced the addition of Jurisdiction View, a new data and situational awareness tool to access critical location and additional data during an emergency. MVECC was one of the first agencies nationwide to test and implement this new tool, which is now available to 9-1-1 centers nationwide through RapidSOS’s free software application RapidSOS Portal.

Information available through RapidSOS Portal includes accurate, real time caller location for 9-1-1 calls from iPhones (iOS 12+) and Android phones (4.0+), as well as situational and incident-specific information from connected vehicles, digital health devices, connected buildings, and mobile applications such as Uber. This information is immediately displayed on a satellite map of MVECC’s jurisdiction, providing enhanced situational awareness for 9-1-1 telecommunicators and allowing for better and faster allocation of resources when it matters most.

MVECC Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar shared the following: 

“The emergency communications profession is one of constant technological change. Prompt and accurate handling of 9-1-1 calls requires a stable and scalable call processing platform as well as support from a variety of third-party vendors and technical application providers. RapidSOS, a leader and innovator in the 9-1-1 space, created ‘jurisdiction view’ to provide critical call-related data to MVECC’s 9-1-1 professionals in real-time, helping us provide a greater level of service to the community and public safety partners we serve.”

Senior Director of Public Safety at RapidSOS Karin Marquez added:

“MVECC is leading the way in adopting new technology to improve emergency response. We’re proud to work alongside MVECC as they help us learn, develop, and iterate on new technology to provide the most informed emergency response possible.” 

Agencies who don’t yet have access to RapidSOS should claim their free account today at www.rapidsosportal.com.

Early Tuesday afternoon (8/4/20), a rapidly moving Tropical Storm arrived in Northern New Jersey after making landfall in North Carolina as a hurricane. 

"Tropical Storm Isaias on Tuesday brought rain, flooding and the most dangerous wind gusts since Superstorm Sandy to New Jersey, destroying property and leaving millions in the Atlantic region without power as the pandemic raged on." (northjersey.com, 8/5/20) The storm system carried with it sustained winds of 30-35 miles per hour with gusts of 65-75 miles per hour. Though fast-moving, the storm's wind speeds still had a catastrophic effect on infrastructure and property. 

Executive Director DeMar provided the following:

"MVECC's Leadership Team closely monitored the progress of Tropical Storm Isaias once the projected path of the storm threatened the northeast. As is the case with any major weather event where advanced warning is possible, MVECC began upstaffing our shifts, in anticipation of increased emergency call volume and public safety need. Those preparations proved invaluable, as our single day call volume was more than five times our daily average, with the majority of the calls arriving in a  two to three hour period during the height of the storm. Our team members pulled together, fielding emergency phone calls as quickly and accurately as possible non-stop for most of the afternoon, and did so while serving the needs of our public safety partners. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the work of our 9-1-1 professionals during this extreme weather event." 

Today, three days after the storm, MVECC's 9-1-1 professionals continue to work with local officials and our public safety partners to help bring our communities back online. 

On July 28, 2015, Mountain Valley Emergency Communications opened its doors for the first time and began providing critical emergency communications services to the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn. Today marks five years in operation for the center. 

Executive Director DeMar shared the following:

"While I have only been with MVECC a short time, I am thrilled to be able to congratulate our team members, many of whom have been with Mountain Valley since it opened. Since the beginning, Mountain Valley has been the vital link between the residents and businesses of our community and our public safety partners. The dedication and pride of our team members is evident every time a 9-1-1 call is picked up and every time a public safety partner is dispatched. I am proud to be a part of this wonderful team of committed public safety professionals." 

In the communities of New Providence and Summit, residents wanting to park a vehicle in the street overnight have been required to call Mountain Valley Emergency Communications to provide vehicle make, model, and color information to our 9-1-1 professionals. This action is required to comply with established ordinances prohibiting the parking of vehicles overnight on local streets without prior approval. 

To keep our 9-1-1 professionals available to answer calls for true emergencies, Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center, in cooperation with Summit Police Department and New Providence Police Department, has partnered with Frontline Public Safety Solutions to provide an online overnight parking reporting tool to the residents of New Providence and Summit. Once implemented, this solution will allow residents to log in to a community specific website to provide overnight parked vehicle information to local law enforcement officials. 

New Providence Chief of Police Theresa Gazaway stated:

"New Providence Police Department is always looking to find ways to improve our efficiency and streamline operations. Frontline will allow residents to self-report situations such as overnight parking and provide citizens with the ability to make requests for other police services such as vacant property checks. Frontline will provide our officers with accurate, up to date information using a simple, intuitive platform."

Summit Chief of Police Andrew Bartolotti added:

" The Summit Police Department is excited to partner with Frontline Public Safety Solutions and the Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center in providing residents and visitors with an efficient and convenient means of obtaining authorization for overnight parking.

The implementation of this technology streamlines the registration process for the public and frees up essential resources to handle emergency calls for service."

Executive Director DeMar shared the following:

"For someone experiencing an emergency, every second counts. By automating the entry of overnight parked vehicle information, our 9-1-1 professionals remain available to answer calls for true emergencies being reported by residents and businesses of Summit and New Providence. This partnership with Frontline Public Safety Solutions is a necessary and progressive move on the part of Mountain Valley Emergency Communications, New Providence Police, and Summit Police to prioritize emergency reporting and funnel non-emergency issues away from our 9-1-1 team."

The new Frontline overnight parking reporting system is expected to be online and available soon. 

Following a unanimous vote of confidence from the MVECC Executive Board, Deputy Director Heyman and Executive Director DeMar announced the creation of a full-time Training & Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Coordinator position for MVECC. 

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Training & Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Coordinator will be responsible for designing and managing a comprehensive training and quality assurance program for the center. 

Executive Director DeMar expressed his appreciation of the Executive Board's decision and spoke about the critical nature of the Training/QA-QI role:

"I am extremely appreciative of the EB's decision which approved the creation of this critical position for Mountain Valley. Ongoing training and quality assurance is vital in the emergency communications space, and both programs are necessary to ensure a consistent service delivery model to our citizens and public safety partners. The Deputy Director and I look forward to welcoming our successful appointee and to working closely with him/her on the development of this program for the center."

Deputy Director Heyman added:

"Training is such a vital component in the 9-1-1 system. As the world changes and technology advances so do the demands on public safety. Having this position approved by our EB shows their continuing support for our center and the recognition that the 9-1-1 center is a priority. This position will allow us to continue to provide a high standard and consistent level of service to our first responders and the communities we serve. The Director and I look forward to the selection process and appointment of this newest team member."

The Training & Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Coordinator position was announced yesterday and is expected to be appointed in the Fall, with an approximate start date of October 1, 2020. 

 Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center Honors its Team Members (2021)

 Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center Names Griffin 'Telecommunicator of The Year'   (2019)

New Providence National Public Safety Telecommunicators Weeks Proclamation (2017)