Latest news with #E911
Chicago Tribune
19-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Chesterton sent email invitation for council meeting, but commissioner says he didn't get it
Chesterton Town Council President Sharon Darnell, D-4th, produced an email she sent July 3 that invited Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs to attend the July 14 council meeting to discuss concerns he raised about the performance of the Chesterton/Porter police dispatch. The Town of Chesterton on its Facebook page posted Darnell's invitation email, sent on behalf of all five council members, as a rebuttal to a statement from Biggs made to the Post-Tribune on Monday that he 'was never formally invited through email, phone call or written letter to attend this meeting.' But Biggs, R-North, said that he never received the email from Darnell. He said he had the county's IT Department review the email account for July 3 and posted screenshots on his Facebook page, which did not show an email from Darnell. Among the things the council wanted to discuss with Biggs was his call for the Chesterton/Porter dispatch center to join the Porter County E911 system on June 18, about 75 minutes after Chesterton's police-involved shooting. An officer was wounded and Joseph Gerber, 45, died from a self-inflicted gunshot after being hit several times during a gunfire exchange in front of the Hilton Garden Inn on Gateway Boulevard. The Indiana State Police are investigating. In addition, the Chesterton Town Council, with the support of Porter's town council, has called for the resignation of Debby Gunn, the director of the county E911 system, for her remarks about the performance of the Chesterton/Porter dispatch center. The county has contended that it took nearly five minutes to call an ambulance to the shooting scene at the Hilton Inn, which Chesterton and Porter denied. A possible explanation for why Biggs didn't receive the email is Darnell sent it to Biggs at a address, which was listed as the contact information on the county website, said Kevin Nevers, Chesterton's spokesman. The county changed its email domain name during the past year. The website now lists the email for Biggs with the correct address. However, Biggs said that even if an email was sent to the old address, he should have received it. Biggs said after he learned that the old email address was on his commissioner page website, he called and had it changed this week. Darnell's email invitation called upon Biggs to come to the meeting 'to openly discuss the concerns and topics you raised during your July 1 press conference.' 'As you rightly stated, this is not about any one individual or group – it is about our residents and the broader community. With that in mind, we believe that any meaningful discussion regarding public safety, inter-agency communication, and improving collaboration between the town and the county should be held in a transparent and public forum.' 'Your presence would provide an opportunity for both the Council and our community members to engage directly with you, ask questions, and work together toward shared solutions. Please let us know at your earliest convenience if you are available to attend. We hope that you will take the opportunity to join us in fostering open, constructive dialogue on issues that affect us all,' the invitation email states. When asked if he would have attended the July 14 meeting if he had received and read the email, Biggs replied: 'Had I received it, I would have taken that as an olive branch of sorts.' Biggs, who lives in Chesterton, said he would have followed up with a phone call to Darnell, whom he has known for years. He said he would want to know exactly what was going to be discussed to determine if he would have come to the July 14 meeting. At this point, Biggs said he didn't want to get into an 'argument' or an 'inquisition.' He said he would be open to meeting with Darnell. The Post-Tribune contacted Darnell via email, and she didn't reply. Darnell during the meeting Monday stated her disappointment that Biggs wasn't there. 'I am not a person who likes to meet anywhere but in a public forum,' Darnell said. 'Maybe we'll figure something else out, but that's the only way we're going to figure this whole thing out. We're not going to do it in a closed room.' Porter County has reached out to Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson, along with new Porter Police Chief Dan Dickey, to discuss ways that the E911 system could improve the working relationship with the Chesterton/Porter Police dispatch, Biggs said. Biggs said that Chesterton and Porter certainly can keep their dispatch center, and he doesn't fault the performance of the Porter Police dispatcher the morning of June 18. He said that the local dispatch, though, doesn't have the capabilities of the E911 system. He said the problem is when Chesterton or Porter police need an ambulance, they have to call the E911 dispatch and there can be a delay. On the morning of June 18, an E911 dispatcher happened to hear the radio transmission of the officer being shot and immediately dispatched an ambulance. The financial realities posed by Senate Bill 1, in which town governments are projected to lose revenue, could cause a reconsideration by Chesterton and Porter in the coming years, Biggs said. The E911 system already handles 911 calls, fire and ambulance dispatch for the two communities. Councilwoman Erin Collins, D-2nd, who with Darnell briefly met with Biggs after his July 1 news conference, said that the intent of inviting Biggs to the Town Council meeting 'was not an ambush.' 'He has concerns, we want to hear them in a public setting,' Collins said.
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Commissioner Jim Biggs doesn't show at council meeting as controversy continues over dispatch
Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs was placed on the agenda to speak at Monday's Chesterton Town Council meeting, but didn't show to the disappointment of council members. Chesterton town council members said that Biggs twice was publicly invited in particular to discuss his statements about the Chesterton/Porter joint dispatch center after the June 18 officer-involved shooting in front of the Hilton Inn on Gateway Boulevard. Joseph P. Gerber, 45, died from a self-inflicted wound after exchanging several gunshots with two Chesterton police officers, wounding one of them. But Biggs said in a statement issued to the Post-Tribune that he 'was never formally invited through email, phone call, or written letter to attend this meeting.' 'Furthermore, no town official has approached me with an invitation to attend this meeting. It was only through a newspaper article, and a Facebook post did I learn that I had been added to the agenda. Lastly, it does our public and the concern for officer safety an injustice to attend and be subjected to more petty personal attacks in order to deflect from the real issue at hand,' Biggs said. Council President Sharon Darnell, D-4th, said that she and Councilwoman Erin Collins, D-2nd, had attended a news conference Biggs held on July 1 and spoke to him afterward. She said that Biggs stated his most pointed issue was to be able to discuss 'freely and openly' the county E911 center and the Chesterton/Porter joint dispatch. 'I am not a person who likes to meet anywhere but in a public forum,' Darnell said. 'Maybe we'll figure something else out, but that's the only way we're going to figure this whole thing out. We're not going to do it in a closed room.' Collins said that Biggs was invited twice by the council to appear. 'I think it was an opportunity for Commissioner Biggs to address the very people that he was elected to represent and serve. His absence tonight is a disservice to them and to the spirit of transparency and accountability in local government,' Collins said. Biggs lives in Chesterton and is the commissioner who represents northern Porter County. He is the president of that board. Collins said that at some point, the town and the county should have a meeting. 'They must take place in public. Not behind closed doors, not through political press conferences and certainly not by exploiting a tragedy to advance a narrative.' Collins said. Collins said the council stands firm in its call for the resignation of Debby Gunn as the E-911 administrator 'for repeated unprofessional conduct and false and misleading public statements.' Gunn contended there was a nearly five-minute delay in the request for an ambulance to the officer, an allegation that was staunchly denied by the town of Chesterton. On the morning of the shooting, Biggs contacted the Post-Tribune and noted that it was time for the Chesterton/Porter dispatch to join the county's E-911 system and that an increase in the county law enforcement tax was needed to cover it. Councilman James Ton, R-1st, said that Chesterton adheres to the standards of the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission and should a meeting occur, the town is committed to 'civility and transparency'. 'I haven't witnessed this in some discussions of this in the past,' Ton said. Biggs, in his statement to the Post-Tribune Monday, said as a resident, some might have the same questions about why Chesterton and Porter would continue to want to have a separate dispatch center. The commissioner listed several questions which included: why in a police emergency is a caller required to speak to two different dispatchers in two location; if the E911 center handles all medical and fire calls, aren't they good enough to handle police calls; if the E911 center is good enough to dispatch police for every other municipality, why isn't it good enough for Chesterton and Porter; and do the residents receive any money outside of Chesterton and Porter taxpayers' dollars to fund the separate dispatch center. 'If the residents of Chesterton and Porter have more questions concerning this issue, I, as their commissioner, would be happy to facilitate a forum of non-biased public safety officials to provide answers,' Biggs said. 'It is true that Chesterton and Porter are under no obligation to consolidate now or ever. This is also true from the county's perspective. As things now stand, this will continue to be the financial responsibility and public safety liability for the governing bodies and law enforcement leadership of both towns.' Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson said he did receive an email from Gunn two days ago, asking if he and Porter Police Chief Dan Dickey would want to sit down with her to speak about how to make the operation between the two dispatch centers more efficient. Richardson said that if the meeting occurs, he wants to have his council liaison, who is Ton, attend. Jennifer Klug, a Porter resident, said that she believes the towns should keep their joint dispatch center. 'I don't appreciate Mr. Biggs or Ms. Gunn saying some of the things they did in public. I think that it's not only unprofessional, but I think in a situation like that, people have to stand together and work on something,' Klug said.
Business Upturn
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Patton Unveils Second-Generation, US-Made, Commercial-Grade, FIPS-140 Ultra-Secure SIP Phone with Enhanced NG911 Compliance
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 13, 2025, 02:52 IST Patton… Let's Connect! GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Patton—world leader and US manufacturer of secure telephony, UC, and networking gear—announces today the new Tone Commander TC7110 ultra-secure SIP phone is now available for pre-order. Tone Commander products are designed and manufactured in the USA, ensuring source-of-origin and supply-chain security. 'The TC7110 combines security, flexibility, and ease-of-use in a modern SIP phone platform,' said Robert R. Patton, CEO of Patton. 'This launch reinforces our commitment to delivering trusted, U.S.-manufactured communications solutions to public and private sectors.' Innovation. Patton has incrementally innovated the original Tone Commander military-grade SIP-Phone. Enhancements to the commercial grade version include Gigabit, PoE, and fiber connectivity, modern E911 features sets, and updated security modules. Secure FIPS-140-2/3 Encryption. The TC7110 offers robust SIP support with TLS and SRTP encryption using FIPS-140-2/3 validated crypto modules. FIPS 140 is the U.S. standard that defines security requirements for hardware, software, and firmware that perform cryptographic functions. The standard is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), overseen and validated by the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP). Enhanced NG911. NG911 system enhancements include Specific Location Information Server (LIS) interactions via RFC 5985 (HTTP Enable Location Delivery HELD protocol), storing and relaying location by reference and location by value. The system includes geodetic coordinates (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoidal height) and E911 Gateway functions within the NG911 environment. E911 Compliance. The TC7110 supports legislated E911 standards including Kari's Law for direct 911 calling and Ray Baum's Act for specific location information. Additional E911 protocols supported include: Automatic Location Information (ALI) Automatic Number Identification (ANI) Compliance with the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) regulations RFC 5962 – Location Object represented in a SIP Header (PIDF-LO) Key Features of the TC7110 SIP Phone: Security – TLS and SRTP encryption with FIPS-140-2/3 validated crypto and IPv4/IPv6 support. – TLS and SRTP encryption with FIPS-140-2/3 validated crypto and IPv4/IPv6 support. Customizable Interface – Ten programmable, desi-less multifunction keys and 320×240 color display. – Ten programmable, desi-less multifunction keys and 320×240 color display. Cloud Orchestration – Automatically provision, manage, monitor, secure, alert, troubleshoot, analyze and optimize services using the Patton Cloud. Remotely and securely access and control phones, LANs, and over-the-top (OTT) services. – Automatically provision, manage, monitor, secure, alert, troubleshoot, analyze and optimize services using the Patton Cloud. Remotely and securely access and control phones, LANs, and over-the-top (OTT) services. Flexible Power Options – Supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and includes external power supply. For more information about the Tone Commander IP Phone TC7110, go to In related news, Patton recently announced the new Tone Commander TC7910 secure SIP Phone that offers three switched gigabit Ethernet ports. About Patton Patton is a world-renowned manufacturer of networking and communications technology, offering a wide range of solutions including VoIP, Ethernet extension, wireless, and fiber optic products. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Patton has a strong global presence and a reputation for delivering reliable and innovative solutions to a diverse customer base. Let's Connect! Media Contact: Glendon Flowers | +1 301 975 1000 | [email protected] A video accompanying this announcement is available at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Patton Unveils Second-Generation, US-Made, Commercial-Grade, FIPS-140 Ultra-Secure SIP Phone with Enhanced NG911 Compliance
US-designed and manufactured, Patton's new commercial SIP-Phone is ultra-secure, FIPS 140-2 validated, and NG911-enabled. Providing POE and Fiber-to-the-Desk, the Tone Commander TC7110 delivers network and source-of-supply security. Patton... Let's Connect! GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patton—world leader and US manufacturer of secure telephony, UC, and networking gear—announces today the new Tone Commander TC7110 ultra-secure SIP phone is now available for pre-order. Tone Commander products are designed and manufactured in the USA, ensuring source-of-origin and supply-chain security. 'The TC7110 combines security, flexibility, and ease-of-use in a modern SIP phone platform,' said Robert R. Patton, CEO of Patton. 'This launch reinforces our commitment to delivering trusted, U.S.-manufactured communications solutions to public and private sectors.' Innovation. Patton has incrementally innovated the original Tone Commander military-grade SIP-Phone. Enhancements to the commercial grade version include Gigabit, PoE, and fiber connectivity, modern E911 features sets, and updated security modules. Secure FIPS-140-2/3 Encryption. The TC7110 offers robust SIP support with TLS and SRTP encryption using FIPS-140-2/3 validated crypto modules. FIPS 140 is the U.S. standard that defines security requirements for hardware, software, and firmware that perform cryptographic functions. The standard is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), overseen and validated by the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP). Enhanced NG911. NG911 system enhancements include Specific Location Information Server (LIS) interactions via RFC 5985 (HTTP Enable Location Delivery HELD protocol), storing and relaying location by reference and location by value. The system includes geodetic coordinates (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoidal height) and E911 Gateway functions within the NG911 environment. E911 Compliance. The TC7110 supports legislated E911 standards including Kari's Law for direct 911 calling and Ray Baum's Act for specific location information. Additional E911 protocols supported include: Automatic Location Information (ALI) Automatic Number Identification (ANI) Compliance with the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) regulations RFC 5962 – Location Object represented in a SIP Header (PIDF-LO) Key Features of the TC7110 SIP Phone: Security – TLS and SRTP encryption with FIPS-140-2/3 validated crypto and IPv4/IPv6 support. Customizable Interface – Ten programmable, desi-less multifunction keys and 320x240 color display. Cloud Orchestration – Automatically provision, manage, monitor, secure, alert, troubleshoot, analyze and optimize services using the Patton Cloud. Remotely and securely access and control phones, LANs, and over-the-top (OTT) services. Flexible Power Options – Supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and includes external power supply. For more information about the Tone Commander IP Phone TC7110, go to In related news, Patton recently announced the new Tone Commander TC7910 secure SIP Phone that offers three switched gigabit Ethernet ports. About Patton Patton is a world-renowned manufacturer of networking and communications technology, offering a wide range of solutions including VoIP, Ethernet extension, wireless, and fiber optic products. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Patton has a strong global presence and a reputation for delivering reliable and innovative solutions to a diverse customer base. Let's Connect! Media Contact: Glendon Flowers | +1 301 975 1000 | press@ A video accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
Chicago Tribune
17-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Porter County 911 dispatchers get closure after meeting Matt Reum, trapped in his pickup for six days
It takes a special person not only to do the job of the 911 dispatcher, remaining cool under pressure for 12-hour shifts, but also to accept not knowing what becomes of the people you're helping after your colleagues arrive on scene and the call ends. Wednesday afternoon in celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, Porter County E911 dispatchers enjoyed some rare closure with a visit from the survivior of one of the more dramatic emergencies they've worked and the men who found him. Matt Reum, of South Bend, was found by two fishermen under the Salt Creek Bridge on westbound Interstate 80/94 on the afternoon of Dec. 26, 2023, having been pinned by the engine block of his pickup truck for six days. Mario Garcia, of Hobart, and his son-in-law Nivardo De La Torre, of Portage, saw his barely-visible truck thanks to late-afternoon sun glinting off the metal. Upon closer investigation they found Reum inside and unconscious. 'I just seen the airbag and then I got the chills,' Garcia said. Reum soon woke up and was very happy to see them having survived on water he filtered through a pair of sweatpants as it dripped from a highway drainage pipe just above his sunroof. De La Torre called 911 and got Porter County E911 Dispatch Supervisor Jeremy Nemeth on the line. 'You were an amazing caller!' Nemeth praised him as De La Torre's wife, children, and mother-in-law looked on. 'He used a really revolutionary technology to locate you,' E911 Director Debby Gunn told De La Torre. 'It's called Rapid SOS.' Reum said he didn't realize how hard the terrain his truck had rolled down until he visited the site last month. Firefighters had to cut a path through brush to get to him. 'Looking at the pictures and everything, that was a complex rescue,' Nemeth agreed of the scene handled by Portage Police and Fire and Burns Harbor Fire Department. Nemeth said it was random that he picked up the call that day and everyone in the dispatch center helped out on the call. 'It literally takes the whole team to get this accomplished,' he said. 'We're always helping each other out.' 'Jeremy's a unicorn. Aside from a dispatcher, he's also a volunteer firefighter,' Gunn said of Nemeth, who was voted Dispatcher of the Year by his peers. Despite 13 years as a dispatcher and 12 as a volunteer firefighter with the Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force, Reum's visit was the first time Nemeth got to follow up with someone he'd assisted. 'A lot of calls, we never know what happens in the end,' he said. While follow-up stories in The Post-Tribune documented Reum's survival, it was touch and go for a bit following his rescue. 'The firefighters, they didn't think I was going to make it to the hospital once the engine was taken off my legs,' he said. Reum survived being airlifted and a stay in intensive care that included the amputation of his left leg at the knee. He had 18 breaks to bones of his right hand and had reconstructive surgery last month to repair tears to every ligament in his thumb, as well as muscle tears. He still has to have a rod in his hand removed, but that hasn't stopped him from taking up writing. Reum published a book, 'Still Standing: The Seven Miracles of Matthew Reum.' That has led to some speaking engagements that have helped fill the days as the former boilermaker ponders a new career. 'Workwise, I can't physically do like I did before,' said the 28-year-old, who has a long life ahead that he hopes will include the launch of a non-profit to provide prosthetic limbs to the homeless. 'I don't think anybody can go through something like this and not have an appreciation for life,' he said. And for those who helped save it. 'I don't think there's enough ways for languages to say, 'Thank you,'' Reum said.
