On Scene First with Tracy Eldridge

On Scene First Ep. 30: I am wicked excited for you to hear this conversation with Cathy and Javi Bustos. Together they are "That Peer Support Couple," and are taking care of our first responders that are struggling with mental health issues. Separately they represent the thin blue line and have not only dealt with their own battles with mental health as law enforcement responders but also as spous...

On Scene First Ep. 29: Samantha Hawkins, Cobb County, GA 9-1-1. I am wicked excited for today's guest. This empathetic, positive communications training officer and I discuss the importance of treating callers with kindness and empathy and her aspirations to be a supervisor. Take a listen and you will see Samantha is clearly a people-centered, born leader that we can all learn a lot from. Special...

On Scene First Ep. 28: D. Todd Spence Director/Paramedic Sevier Co. E911 Central Dispatch. I am wicked excited for today's guest. Join us as we discuss how Director Spence moved from the paramedic side of the radio to taking on Communications, his work during the Gatlinburg wildfires, and the children's book he wrote, titled, "What is a Tactical Medic." Special thanks to our Premier sponsor, NGA 9...

On Scene First Ep. 27: Marty Crum 9-1-1 Operations Manager, Lawrence County, TN. I am wicked excited for today's guest. Join us as we discuss how a 9-1-1 center prepared for, worked through, and recover from a ransomware attack. In April 2022 their center was hit by one and Director Crum shares some amazing information that may help you in your center. Special thanks to our Premier sponsor, NGA 91...

Welcome to Episode 26: Today's episode is just me, join me for a quick 2022 update. In this episode, we send out a huge THANK YOU to our 2022 "On Scene First with Tracy Eldridge" podcast /media sponsor, NGA 911. I will also cover what we are up to and will be up to in 2022. Thank you to our PREMIER Sponsor, NGA 911. For more information on all your Next Gen 9-1-1 needs head on over to NGA 911 and...

Welcome to Episode 25: I am wicked excited for today's guest Kevin Konczal, Kevin is a veteran Police officer who experienced a fatal officer-involved shooting, just 6 weeks into his career Join us as we chat about the mental health consequences and how he worked through his Post-traumatic stress. Kevin may no longer be serving from the field, but he is still serving those in it. Thank you to our...

Welcome to Episode 24: I am wicked excited for today’s guest Ocean Desjardins, an 18 year 911 extraordinaire with a passion for training and consulting. As a certified trainer of LGBTQIA Awareness for Public Safety Professionals, Ocean will peel back some hard layers, share valuable information, and raise awareness on a topic we should all learn more about. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSO...

Welcome to Episode 23: I am wicked excited to speak to today's guest Rich Levesque. Rich and I worked for neighboring towns for many years and working a single-seat dispatch center was not the only thing we had in common, we both left the job we loved because of PTSD and are devoting time to helping save the lives in the seat versus from the seat. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for mor...

Welcome to Episode 22: What an honor it was to speak to today's guest, Bobby Henline. Bobby is a wounded war veteran who was seriously injured in an IED attack in Iraq in 2007 that took the 4 lives in his unit, Bobby was the sole survivor. With burns covering approximately 40% of his body and the loss of one of his hands, Bobby has worked tirelessly to keep his PTSD in check and help others. At th...

Welcome to Episode 21: My guest today is Jim Lake, ENP. Jim is the Director of the Charleston County, SC Consolidated Dispatch Center. With over 40 years in the Public Safety field, Jim is a wealth of knowledge. From field responder as a FF/EMT to having over 175 people in his charge, Jim is the epitome of a public safety difference-maker. Join us as we talk about various leadership topics and how...

Welcome to episode 20: I am wicked excited to speak to Melissa Alterio, Director of the Cobb County, GA Emergency Communications Department. With over 30 years of experience in the 911 industry, Melissa knows a thing or two about a thing or two especially when it comes to leadership and mentoring. Join us as we talk about the importance of helping others level up and find out what Melissa said: "I...

Welcome to episode 19: I am wicked excited to speak to Laurie Anderson, Laurie is the 9-1-1 Coordinator for Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in Fla. Join us as we chat about the importance of embracing new technology in the 9-1-1 center, and furthermore why we need to train the field responders too. We also discuss the NENA Wellness Committee and the updated Acute Stress Standard that is now call...

Welcome to episode 18, I am wicked excited to speak with Melinda Crokom, Melinda works for the Commission on State Emergency Communications; a small agency doing big things in the big state of TX. Join us as we discuss the importance of public education, the National Public Safety Educator Forum, their upcoming virtual training conference, and Kari’s law. For more information on the National Publi...

Welcome to episode 17, I am wicked excited to speak Anne Camaro, Asst. Director of Operation for the Cambridge, MA 9-1-1 Communications Center. Join us as we discuss how we met back in 2007, the power of peer support, and the effect of the 9-1-1 profession on family and how we both learned to say no, recently! Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on how you can become Ra...

Welcome to episode 16, I am wicked excited to speak to Jed Barton, Jed is a 32 year veteran on 911 communications. Just wait until you hear how minor modifications to the console allowed Jed to perform his duties as a 911 dispatcher with a unique disability. After listening, I am sure you will “see” the value of what he has to say. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more information on...

Welcome to episode 15, I am wicked excited to speak to Brad Sheperd the CEO of the Warriors rest foundation. After many years serving the citizens of Oklahoma with the Oklahoma highway patrol Brad has devoted his life to being a mental health advocate in resource for those struggling in the public safety field. He is the CEO of Warriors Rest, where they serve those who continuously serve others. T...

Welcome to episode 14, I am wicked excited to speak to Jamison Peevyhouse, Jamison is the Director of Customer Success for RapidSOS. Join us as we share the Importance of incident-specific additional data during emergencies the RapidSOS Portal and what3words Partnership, and why overcoming F.U.D, is necessary to the mission of saving lives…. what to know more about FUD, keep listening, I promise y...

Welcome to episode 13, I am wicked excited to speak with Tyrell Morris, Tyrell is the Director of Orleans Parish Communications District in New Orleans, From working at Disney World to running for president and everything in between, join us as we discuss leadership, embracing new technology and the importance of staying connected to the mission. Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more...

Welcome to episode 12, I am wicked excited to speak to Ashley Cashion of What3Words. If you have not yet heard of What3Words, you are missing out. This is an additional tool in the 911 telecommunicators toolbox to not only help locate your 911 and landline callers but to also assist you and telling you our first responders exactly where to go. Oh, and did I mention it is free to Public Safety? I h...

Welcome to episode 11, I am wicked excited to speak to my dear friend and mental health advocate, Ryan Dedmon, Ryan currently the Outreach Director for the 911 Training institute. As a former 911 telecommunicator and police officer, he knows the importance of keeping our first responders mentally well. While Ryan may no longer be saving lives from "in" the seat he is part of the mission to save th...

Welcome to Episode 10: I am wicked excited to speak to my Carl Waggett. As a career firefighter, Carl loves to help people, so when PTSD took hold of him, he was lead to help others understand. He started the blog turned podcast PTSD Bunker Gear for your brain as an aA support page for those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, specifically those in emergency services and their families...

Welcome to Episode 9: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest D.Jeremy DeMar, Executive Director, Mountain Valley ECC, in New Jersey. We hope you enjoy our conversation as we discuss, -The importance of caring for your people FIRST -What 3 Words - location technology -Motorola Citizen Input -Jeremy’ Master’s Thesis on Incident Related Imagery Thank you to our premier sponsor RapidSOS, for more in...

Welcome to Episode 8: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest Mark J. Fletcher, ENP (Fletch). Fetch is the Vice President for Public Safety at 911inform, LLC. Having worked as a Police Dispatcher, a Special Officer in NJ, and Chief Architect positions at Nortel and Avaya, he has contributed to the Public Safety / Telecommunications industry for nearly 40 years. Fletcher is listed at the inventor...

Welcome to Episode 7: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest Mandy Ptak, Mandy is the Director of the Baldwin County, GA 9-1-1 Center. We continued the chat that started with Ep 5 and 6 regarding Hurricane Sally hitting Baldwin County and her account of leading a team there for a TERT response, the mental health aspect when it is not "your" emergency and how TERT may help with reclassification.

Welcome to Episode 6: I am wicked excited to speak to my guest Dan Wright, Dan is the Deputy Director fo the Baldwin County, AL 9-1-1 Center. We will discuss how their center weathered, Hurricane Sally, what they learned when they requested a TERT response and how implementation of new technology prior to the storm, not only helped their telecommunicators but also the TERT folks that came from 4 o...