In this episode of The Wilmac Wire, hosts Emily McNulty and Steve McDonnell sit down with Mark "Fletch" Fletcher, Founder and Principal Consultant at Fletch 911 Consulting, for a wide-ranging conversation on emergency communications, Next Generation 911, technology modernization, and the legislation that continues to shape the industry.

With more than 40 years of experience spanning public safety and telecommunications, Fletch shares his unconventional journey from volunteer EMT, dispatcher, and special officer to becoming one of the most influential independent voices in 911. Along the way, he reflects on the career experiences that led him to hold 14 U.S. patents, advocate for industry-wide change, and help shape landmark federal legislation.

The conversation explores the stories behind Kari's Law and the RAY BAUM'S Act, including how Fletch worked alongside the Hunt family to improve emergency access and location accuracy for 911 callers. He also shares what it was like to help navigate the legislative process and attend the White House signing ceremony that made Kari's Law official.

Emily, Steve, and Fletch also discuss some of the biggest challenges facing emergency communications today, including staffing shortages, dispatcher wellness, technology adoption, and the pace of Next Generation 911 implementation. Fletch offers his perspective on why workforce management, resiliency, cloud infrastructure, and emerging technologies like AI and Starlink could play a significant role in the future of public safety.

The episode closes with a look at industry consolidation, the growing importance of IoT and real-time data, and why public safety agencies must continue modernizing to meet the expectations of an increasingly connected world.

Here’s what you’ll hear about:

• Fletch’s journey from dispatcher to 911 industry influencer
• The story behind Kari's Law and RAY BAUM'S Act
• What it takes to move public safety legislation forward
• Next Generation 911 and industry modernization
• Workforce management and dispatcher wellness
• AI, automation, and emerging technologies in 911
• Industry consolidation and the future of public safety technology
• The role of Starlink and resiliency in emergency communications
• IoT, real-time data, and what's next for NG911

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Welcome and introduction
2:44 Fletch's background and career journey
8:38 Building patents and solving public safety problems
14:06 The story behind Kari's Law
16:58 RAY BAUM'S Act and dispatchable location
20:04 Launching Fletch 911 Consulting
21:16 Getting legislation signed into law
26:33 Industry consolidation and technology trends
33:01 Why wellness should be every PSAP's top priority
39:57 Starlink, resiliency, and emergency communications
42:58 Workforce management and modernization in 911
53:27 What's next for NG911 and public safety technology
54:14 Closing thoughts

Connect with the speakers:

Emily McNulty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-miller-mcnulty-666b66152/

Steve McDonnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mcdonnell-8659042b/

Mark "Fletch" Fletcher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fletch911/

🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lhL8QkXa9LUYlXjSAp3OE?si=5e898a21f06841c7