Head to Austin on January 16 or Nashville on February 15 to gain first-hand knowledge about how to defend against and respond to a cyberattack. Learn what it takes to achieve fully-deployed NG9-1-1 capabilities and experience simulations, scenarios and exercises designed to translate learning topics into practice that you will take back to your agency. Attendees can earn up to 7 CEUs towards your professional development goals. For more information

And don't forget, APCO members SAVE money on registration. For a limited time, APCO full and associate members can register for less than $100.

Austin, Texas January 16, 2018 View Program | Register Early bird rates end January 1	Nashville, Tennessee February 15, 2018 View Program | Register Early bird rates end February 1
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APCO International’s Annual Conference & Expo held in Las Vegas next August will be the most valuable opportunity in 2018 to network with the best in public safety communications, from frontline telecommunications and communication center management to public safety communications equipment and services vendors.

If you haven't booked your booth for Las Vegas, now is the time to do so. Rates increase on January 1, 2018. Reserve your space now or increase your current booth size at the lowest rate.

The APCO Institute and SecuLore are co-hosting a special one-day cybersecurity course on January 11 at the APCO headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL., that will cover in detail the following topics:

• Cybersecurity Awareness – current events, cyber policies, risky websites, the threat of connected devices
• Information Security – targeted attacks, protecting your network data, IT checklist, internet security
• Securing Your Computer – network security, spyware, continuous monitoring, anti-virus software, securing your web browser
• Recovering From an Attack – review of current events and public safety cyberattacks, recovery from attacks caused by Trojan horses, virus, ransomware and malware

Attendees will receive 8 CDEs for the class. Get more information

If your career advancement plan includes APCO Institute training, attendance at APCO 2018 or participation in another APCO event, you could receive financial assistance by applying for an APCO scholarship beginning next Monday, January 1. New this year, the scholarship application deadline is February 16 for the Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program and March 31 for all other scholarships. For more information

If your New Year’s resolutions include taking steps to advance your career, now’s the time to act. The APCO Institute is accepting applications for its Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) Program. Sessions begin July 4, 2018, and January 2, 2019. Space is limited, so don’t wait to apply. Scholarships are available and must be applied for before midnight ET February 16.

Interested in learning about writing effective communications center policy? Goal setting and time management? Mentoring in the PSAP? Then register now for these newly announced APCO Institute webinars that are free to APCO members. The series of webinars was designed to address issues of particular importance to communications center supervisors, but the webinars are open to anyone. For more information

As of Monday, January 1, the recertification process for all APCO Institute courses must be completed online; paper recertification forms will no longer be accepted. The Institute launched its online recertification process in late 2016 and the change has enhanced customer service and reduced turnaround times for becoming recertifed. For more information

Crystal McDuffie, Comm Center and 9-1-1 Services Manager
Crystal McDuffie joined the APCO Comm Center and 9-1-1 Services staff in 2011 and works as the Comm Center and 9-1-1 Services Manager. In this capacity, Crystal serves as the liaison to the APCO Standards Development Committee and provides support for the APCO Agency Training Program Certification, a Project 33^® Initiative, and the RETAINS^® Staffing Tool. Additionally, she serves as an APCO representative on several committees in other organizations.

Crystal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies from North Carolina Wesleyan College. She is certified as a Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) and Emergency Number Professional (ENP). Crystal has worked in public safety for 21 years, both in a PSAP and as a paramedic.

APCO International is seeking writing group members to participate in the revision of the APCO ANS standard for Wireless 9-1-1 Deployment & Management Effective Practices.

APCO International is seeking comments on a Candidate American National Standard (ANS) that enables disparate PSAPs and other authorized agencies to share incident disposition information.

WNCT 9 Emergency personnel, including 9-1-1 dispatchers, are among those still at work on Christmas.

Peninsula Daily News The calls can be quickly re-routed but when callers don’t know their locations it slows emergency response.

Help improve emergency communications by taking the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey. SAFECOM and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications released the survey, which will provide valuable insights on the current state of the nation’s emergency communications.

Variety A telecommunicator is a key player in this ensemble Los Angeles-based police procedural.

Chicago Tribune Behind the scenes, technicians and telecommunicators carry off a smooth transition to a new 9-1-1 center in Will County, Illinois.