Imagine you’re watching television, enjoying your day and a breaking news flash comes on. You see law enforcement in a shootout with two heavily armed men during a bank heist. You are shock at the sight of it. Now imagine you’re 911, experiencing this first-hand with your brothers and sisters who are there, giving their lives. You listen as they yell for assistance, and...“Shots fired!”

Episode 131 - Imagine Listening features the stories of the #IAM911 movement. This episode also features radio traffic recordings courtesy of the 911dispatch.com tape library on the North Hollywood bank heist shootout that occurred February 28, 1997. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that incident. Two men, heavily armed and wearing body armor were in a shootout with law enforcement for nearly 44 minutes. In the end, the only fatalities were the suspects. 

This is a must listen! As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. If you have an #IAM911 story to share, use the same email or send a message to the Facebook podcast page or Twitter account. 

Episode topics -

• Stories from the #IAM911 movement
• 911 tape - North Hollywood bank heist shootout

Ep 130 features April, Industry Affairs Specialist with INdigital and former 911 Director with Eaton County 911 out of Michigan along with Larry, Director of Sales and Marketing with INdigital and former Reserve Officer with Hudsonville PD out of Michigan. In this episode we share dispatch stories and listen to 9-1-1 calls. 

This is a must listen! As always if you have any questions, comments or if you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics -

• April's 9-1-1 story
• Suicide call April took
• Larry's public safety start

911 Tapes -

• Tape 1 - CPR - In July 2009 a Charleston County (SC) woman suffered a cardiac arrest at home, and her husband dialed 911 for help. Dispatcher Melissa gave him CPR instructions, and he performed for six minutes until EMS units arrived. His wife Christine survived.
• Tape 2 - In July 2009 a Boca Raton couple were attacked by a “crazy” fox, and they used a PVC pipe to club the animal to death. Michael and Dani dialed 911 for help. Oddly, 10 minutes later a raccoon attacked a person several blocks away.
• Tape 3 - In Nov. 2009 a 4 year-old girl in Charles County (Md.) dialed 911 for help when her mother became ill. Child gave dispatcher information that allowed EMS units to quickly arrive and treat her mother’s diabetic emergency.
• Tape 4 - In July 2007 two elephants from a visiting circus wandered past their electric-fence enclosure and into the neighborhoods of Newmarket (Ont., Canada) to graze on grass and trees. A group of people walking home spotted the elephants and dialed 911 to report their sighting to a surprised dispatcher. The elephants were rounded up without incidents.
• Tape 5 - In May 2010 a Northport (Fla.) woman dialed 911 to complain about her pizza order. Caller acknowledged the call wasn’t an emergency, but still complained.
• Tape 6 - In Nov. 2010 a Puyallup (Wash.) woman dialed 911 from a closet after hearing someone break into her home mid-morning. Puyallup PD dispatcher Dorene answered the call and expertly asked questions and reassured the caller.

Ep 129 of the podcast features Jerry, Chair of the Board of Accreditation for the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, the organization charged with setting standards, establishing curriculum, and conducting research for public safety dispatch worldwide and Mike, who is the Digital and Social Media Content Editor of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. In this episode we share medical dispatch stories, learn about the IAED and their upcoming 2017 NAVIGATOR conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. They will be featuring the podcast at the conference and I will be giving a class called, "Keep Broadcasting Your Message." 

The Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship is up and the IAED and I are going to be pushing it hard. The deadline is February 15, 2017 and it's an opportunity that you do not want to miss out on. Below you will find out what you can get from the scholarship and a link on where to apply. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship - Web

IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Scholarship includes -

• Complimentary registration to the NAVIGATOR 2017 Conference
• Complimentary registration for a one-day pre-conference course of choice at NAVIGATOR 2017
• A $500 travel stipend
• Official Within the Trenches T-shirt

Episode topics -

• How Jerry got into public safety?
• How Mike got into public safety?
• Medical dispatch stories
• What is the IAED?
• What is the NAVIGATOR Conference

Episode 127 features show regular Rob "Big Mac" McMullen, Director of Vigo County 9-1-1 in Indiana and 1st VP of NENA. In this episode we talk about those unwanted stomach issues in dispatch. The ones that attack when a high priority call comes in and you are unable to get up to use the bathroom. It happens to some more often then you would think. We also play a few 9-1-1 tapes that you don't want to miss. They come from the archive of 911dispatch.com. Thank you and R.I.P. Gary. I will forever be grateful to you for your help and kindness. 

Episode 128 and 129 are also coming up where 128 will be the second installment of Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring the stories of the #IAM911 movement. 129 will feature the IAED and the 2017 Navigator conference. There is a lot more to come so don't miss out!

As always if you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com

Episode topics -

• Medical issues in dispatch
• Pootastic dispatch stories
• Tape 1 - Naughty kids
• Tape 2 - Lady wants officer to come back to her home
• Tape 3 - Dog calls 911
• Tape 4 - Manny to the rescue

Episode 126 is different from the rest. It's the introduction to Within the Trenches - Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring stories from the #IAM911 movement. What you are about to hear are true stories. While some have good outcomes, the majority are horrifying. A warning...if you suffer from PTSD or have suicidal tendencies this episode may be a trigger. LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK. 

This episode also touches on PTSD in 9-1-1 dispatch and a look at the dark humor that comes with the job. A shout out goes to Dave, Tim and Amy of Darkness Radio for having me on their show. Below you will find links to my interview and a shout out to Mike of Sword & Scale for having me on episode #82 of his podcast. As always if you have any questions or want to be a guest on show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. 

Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship - Web

Sword and Scale - Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web | Episode #82

Darkness Radio - Facebook | Twitter | Web | Interview - Hour 1 | Interview - Hour 2

Episode topics -

• Imagine Listening featuring #IAM911 Stories
• PTSD in 9-1-1 Dispatch
• Dark Humor

Episode 125 features an interview with Kyle, a 9-1-1 dispatcher with Montgomery County Central Communications Center out of Indiana. He shares his 9-1-1 story and a recent call that follows a tragedy involving a mother who murdered her own children, stabbed herself in the neck but lived. She has been charged with two counts of murder and so far, has pleaded not guilty. This is an episode you don't want to miss. This is also part of the season finale of the Sword & Scale podcast.

As always if you have any questions or you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Brandi Worley Case - FOX59

Sword and Scale - Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• Kyle's 9-1-1 story
• Brandi Worley news story
• Shout out to the Sword and Scale podcast

This is a short episode on the Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship in association with the IAED, a recap of stories told in Ep. 123 and a shout out to Sword & Scale, an addicting true crime podcast that you must check out! I helped out on episode 82, their season finale and it is horrific! Per Mike, "DO NOT LISTEN TO EPISODE 82!" 

As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship - Web

Sword and Scale - Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

• Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship
• Episode 123 story recap
• Shout out to Sword and Scale podcast

Within the Trenches Ep 123 -

This episode features four of my personal #IAM911 movement stories. They are the stories that started it all and now they have more of an explanation to them. Enjoy, share and make sure to check out the IAED links below as well as the information on the Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship. 

As always if you have any questions, comments or you want to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web

Episode topics -

Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship

#IAM911 Stories 

• Four wheeler flip
• Suicide - car vs tree
• Grandma death 
• Baby death

Within the Trenches episode 122 is sponsored by INdigital, a leader in Next-Gen Core Services. This episode features Jennifer, a dispatcher with Ogle County Sheriff’s Office out of Illinois and show regular Rob 'Big Mac' McMullen, director with Vigo County, Indiana and 1st VP of NENA. Jennifer shares her 9-1-1 story, we visit a tragic homicide case out of Montgomery County, Indiana and we share some updates on the #IAM911 movement, decals and the IAED/Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship. This is a must listen so check it out and share!

As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship Registration - Web

Episode topics -

• Update on inner ear issue and vertigo
• Update on vinyl decals
• Update on #IAM911 and Project #IAM911
• Update on IAED and Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship
• Jennifer's 9-1-1 story
• Montgomery County, Indiana Homicide