Public trust in 911 and public safety took multiple hits this week. In Nashville, a dispatcher was suspended after glorifying the assassination of Charlie Kirk on social media. In Grand Prairie, a 911 error sent officers to the wrong house, leading to a man being shot and raising serious questions about accountability and optics. And in Azle, a firefighter was placed on leave after a viral video showed him abusing a dog.

But this week wasn’t only about scandal. Congress is again debating federal recognition for dispatchers and while the legislation has momentum, I explain why my optimism is guarded. We’ve been here before with the SAVES Act, and NENA hasn’t done enough to educate dispatchers about how reclassification really benefits those behind the console.

These incidents and the legislation all connect to one theme: public trust. Once it’s lost, we all pay the price.