By Steve Leese, Director of Comm Center & 9-1-1 Services, APCO International
In the field of public safety, interoperability has several specific meanings that apply to the tools used in our profession. For instance, fire apparatus hose fittings are commonly standardized so that departments from different jurisdictions can provide mutual aid effectively. Continue
APCO has contracted with George Mason University (GMU) to conduct a survey to determine incident handling times. The following are the ways for PSAP Directors to gain access in the survey:
By Email - On March 22, April 4 and April 9, emails were sent to PSAP Directors with the title of "APCO & the 9-1-1 Industry Need Your Help!" Respondents are welcome to still use the link that was emailed. If you are unable to use that link or if you would like to participate and have not received any of these communications, you may send an email with your name, PSAP name and location to cssr@gmu.edu.
By Mail - In the first week of May, a paper brochure version of the survey was sent out to PSAPs which included a self-addressed stamped envelope to return the survey.
By Phone - Beginning May 16, GMU will begin contacting PSAPs by phone to remind them to take the survey or participate in this survey over the phone. If you have not yet been contacted and would like to schedule an appointment to take the survey by phone, please send an email to cssr@gmu.edu with your name, PSAP name and location.
The deadline for PSAP Directors to participate in this survey is May 25.
Mark Boudreaux has served as Executive Director for the Terrebonne
Parish 9-1-1 District for 22 years. He has taught as an APCO Instructor for the
past 20 years and served as an Adjunct Instructor for almost 10 years. Mark
loves to teach, but more so, he loves to learn. "You've heard the phrase
'You learn something new every day', and that is even more true in our ever
evolving profession." Mark still remembers working dispatch in the
Sheriff's Office with just "pen and paper". Today, their 9-1-1 District
operates a consolidated CAD system with AVL and MDC's for Law and Fire as well
as on-board NCIC, RMS, civil and jail for law. 9-1-1 callers have the ability to
send pictures or video directly to responding personnel. "As technology
advances so will what we teach, how we teach and the way we teach."
Mark's guidance and comfort in life comes from his faith, family, friends and
his obnoxious husky... and not necessarily in that order.
Dayton Daily News
Two dispatchers were praised by police for responding "exactly the way it is supposed to work" to a domestic violence call resulting in an officer-involved shooting.
Jennifer Wherley, supervisor of the Southwest Regional Communications Center in DeSoto, Texas, has been named the Texas APCO Supervisor of the Year for 2017. Wherley was presented with the award during an April 11 presentation.
WKBN
With extensive, costly training, meager salaries and part-time hours, the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office finds themselves short on 9-1-1 dispatchers.
Mark Boudreaux has served as Executive Director for the Terrebonne
Parish 9-1-1 District for 22 years. He has taught as an APCO Instructor for the
past 20 years and served as an Adjunct Instructor for almost 10 years. Mark
loves to teach, but more so, he loves to learn. "You've heard the phrase
'You learn something new every day', and that is even more true in our ever
evolving profession." Mark still remembers working dispatch in the
Sheriff's Office with just "pen and paper". Today, their 9-1-1 District
operates a consolidated CAD system with AVL and MDC's for Law and Fire as well
as on-board NCIC, RMS, civil and jail for law. 9-1-1 callers have the ability to
send pictures or video directly to responding personnel. "As technology
advances so will what we teach, how we teach and the way we teach." 
