APCO is still asking 9-1-1 professionals and their supporters to take action to ensure the federal government reclassifies Public Safety Telecommunicators (PSTs) as "protective" occupations. Take action today by submitting comments to help federal officials understand the protective work performed by PSTs and by contacting your elected officials in Congress to ask for their support.
Looking for an easy way to ask colleagues to file comments? Share this short video describing our call to action and this simple guide for the types of stories PSTs are sending to the federal officials involved with the SOC revision.
Hearing back from your members in Congress? We put together a one-pager designed to explain the reclassification issue to congressional staff. Feel free to use this for talking points or as a leave-behind if you have meetings with your elected officials.
Let us know when you take action by adding #911protectsme to your social media posts.
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APCO recently formed four new task forces: Committee Enhancement Initiative Phase 4 Task Force, Membership Benefits Task Force, Non-Traditional PSAP Task Force and Aging in the PSAP Task Force. Those interested in participating can fill out an application. The deadline is September 15. Learn more.
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Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the flooding in Louisiana, which is being hailed as the worst U.S. natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy. We know that many of our colleagues and their families are recovering and some have lost everything. If you are in need of assistance, APCO can help through the Sunshine Fund. The Sunshine Fund provides a measure of financial assistance for those public safety communications professionals who experience a life-altering event that places a significant burden upon you or your immediate family. Fill out the Sunshine Fund Request Form to apply for relief. If you would like to help by donating to the fund, contact Ricky Marshall at marshallr@apcointl.org.
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The IJIS Institute is holding its Mid-Year Briefing September 14–16 at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The briefing will cover a range of high-priority technology issues facing the law enforcement, justice, public safety and homeland security missions. The agenda will be informative and educational on the most significant national advances in information sharing and safeguarding. There will also be significant time for networking throughout the event.
The IJIS Institute is an important partner to APCO, and we have a number of joint interests, including the advancement of the EIDD CAD interoperability standard, NG9-1-1, FirstNet and text-to-9-1-1 translation. APCO is also a part of the IJIS Digital Integrity Task Force that focuses on policy and process considerations for the move to digital. We look forward to continuing our work with IJIS to help the emergency communications community effectively advance our use of technology.
Register Here
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Alex Whitaker has been in public safety, in one form or another, since 1991. He started with the Indiana State Police in July of that year as a dispatcher at their Indianapolis Post #52. His career with the Indiana State Police lasted 18 years, culminating in his being promoted to a technical services engineer and an APCO local advisor in April 2003.
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SNN News
The Sarasota County (Fla.) Emergency Operations Center received a top award for technology. It was recognized by APCO officials with the 2016 technology leadership award for a large communications center, which honors winners for their use of technological advancements and the benefit received by their employees and the citizens they serve. Award recipients were recognized on August 15 at the APCO Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando.
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Franklin County Times
When EMS or the fire department responds to an emergency call, it is vitally important that first responders are able to quickly locate those in danger — particularly those who need rescuing from their homes. For Russellville (Ala.) citizens who have disabilities, escaping a home that’s on fire, for example, might be impossibly beyond their power. To aid first responders in quickly locating someone unable to escape a burning building, the Russellville Fire Department and 9-1-1 have developed an information request form to provide crucial information that can be kept on file about people with limited mobility or other disabilities who could need aid in an emergency situation.
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The San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego dispatchers are answering 9-1-1 emergency calls more than twice as fast as they were in April thanks to a series of management changes and some large pay hikes, city officials said Wednesday. Average wait times have steadily fallen from 15.38 seconds in April to 9.95 seconds in May, 8.92 seconds in June and 7.03 seconds in July.
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NewsChannel 10
A new law will ensure that all Texans can easily dial 9-1-1 during emergencies. Owners of multi-line telephone systems in Texas are now required by law to provide direct access to 9-1-1 without having to dial an additional digit such as 9 before getting an outside line.
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The Oregonian
A new service taking effect Tuesday in certain Oregon and Washington counties will make emergency services more accessible to people who are hearing impaired or in situations where it is unsafe to talk on the phone. The text-to-9-1-1 service is now available for the Portland Dispatch Center Consortium, which includes dispatch centers in Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties. Astoria and Lake Oswego will also use the the service.
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Dispatcher of Grafton County (N.H.) and Lincoln Fire Rescue Captain Steven Bomba, 25, passed away on August 19 in a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 93 in Canterbury after attending the 170th Police Academy graduation in Durham. His funeral was held on August 21, and his casket was carried by members of the state police and a firefighter motorcycle group. Calling hours were held on August 23 at the Fournier-Hale Funeral Home, and a Mass of Christian Burial was held at the St. Joseph Church in Lincoln on August 24.
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Jean Nealy, a longtime APCO member, passed away earlier this month. On August, 14, 2016, Jean Nealy was sworn-in posthumously as the Washington APCO-NENA President. Prior to her passing, Jean served as the Chapter’s President-Elect, the NENA Treasurer, and the Sponsorship and History Committee Chair, and in the past she served on the Mentoring Committee and Chapter Services Committee. In 2012, Jean was the Chapter Presidential Award recipient for her work with sponsors and vendors. She had also been a past PIO for the chapter. Jean achieved the NENA Emergency Number Professional certification (ENP). Washington APCO-NENA Past President Jackie Jones said, "We will miss your smiling face, Jean! You meant so much to our chapter. May you rest in peace."
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