Brian Schoonmaker was named Chief of Police in Hazleton, Pennsylvania in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. With FirstNet, Chief Schoonmaker jumped right into developing policies to keep the community and police officers safe during this unprecedented event.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is a national association representing all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency response personnel. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMT provides input on issues that are essential to emergency medical technicians.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) is saddened to learn of the passing of Assistant Sheriff Raymond Flynn (Ret.) of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Ray’s family and friends.

A research team from Texas A&M University traveled to Hawaii when the Kilauea volcano erupted in 2018. Using small drones and the FirstNet network, they live-streamed the lava flow to the emergency operations center more than 30 miles away. FirstNet provided the connection and bandwidth needed to share quality footage in real time, enabling first responders to quickly plan and respond to impending dangers.

First responders in tribal nations are tackling the COVID-19 health crisis with dedication and innovation, and many are turning to technology solutions to enhance their operations. Tribal nations like the Colville Tribes in Washington have gotten a boost in coverage from FirstNet at testing sites and emergency operation centers.