There is just one week left to register for Nexus! Join us May 29-30 for an interactive walk-through of scenarios from real events and experience the future of emergency communications with NG9-1-1 technologies.

Also taking place on May 29 is the APCO Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a former APCO award recipient, will provide welcome remarks to kick off the evening’s program. Commissioner Gomez has been a strong advocate of public safety communications throughout her career, and we are honored to host her as we recognize a deserving slate of 2024 award winners. 

Register now for both events.

On May 16 and 20, APCO met with representatives from the offices of FCC Commissioners Carr, Starks, Simington and Gomez to discuss several public safety issues. During the meetings APCO expressed ongoing concern about the potential for interference to public safety systems in the 6 GHz band following the FCC’s action to expand access to the band for unlicensed devices. Regarding the FCC’s proposal to facilitate implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1, APCO reiterated support for rules that would require service providers to deliver IP-based 9‑1‑1 traffic to ECCs and urged the FCC to adopt interoperability requirements for the service providers. Additionally, APCO discussed the requirements for service providers to notify 9-1-1 centers about outages impacting 9-1-1 calls. Finally, APCO suggested the FCC take further action to explore additional avenues for ensuring that 9-1-1 centers receive actionable location information for wireless 9-1-1 calls in the form of dispatchable location.

APCO is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Emergency Communications Center Awards and Technology Leadership Awards. The winners will be recognized during the Opening General Session at APCO 2024, APCO’s Annual Conference & Expo, August 4-7 in Orlando, Florida.

The award recipients demonstrated the highest levels of professional conduct and outstanding performance in the line of duty. The award winner in each category is:

Communications Center Director of the Year
Andrew Dameron
Denver 9-1-1
Denver, CO

Telecommunicator of the Year
Beth Gunn
Jeffcom 911
Lakewood, CO

Trainer of the Year
Drew Tetrick
Kitsap 911
Bremerton, WA

Line Supervisor of the Year
Libby Howland
Eaton County 911
Charlotte, MI

Information Technologist of the Year
Stephen Stetson
Dare County Sheriff’s Office
Manteo, NC

Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year
Chuck Kuhler
Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office
Warrenton, VA

Team of the Year
Valley Communications Center
Kent, WA

Technology in Leadership Award – Large Agency
City of Hemet Police & Fire ECC
Hemet, CA

Technology in Leadership Award – Small Agency
NEOM Command and Control Center
Saudi Arabia

On May 20, APCO filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting rule changes to establish a new code to be used in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for missing and endangered adults. Under the current rules, public safety agencies can issue an AMBER Alert to warn the community of a missing and endangered child, but there is not a corresponding alert for adults. The new code will ensure consistency among public safety agencies issuing alerts, thus improving collaboration between jurisdictions and understanding among the public.

Implementation of Link Layer Authentication Within P25
May 30 | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Free for members; $59 for non-members | 1 CDE
Register

Best Practices for ERCES: Expert Insights and Actionable Tips for Public Safety Stakeholders
June 11 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Free for members; $59 for non-members | 1 CDE
Sponsored by V-COMM
Register

The following agencies have received APCO Agency Training Program Certification, a Project 33® Initiative:

• Plano Public Safety Communications, TX
• Gwinnett County Police Department, GA
• Orange County Emergency Communications Center, NC

Public safety agencies use the APCO International Agency Training Program Certification as a formal mechanism to ensure their training programs meet APCO American National Standards (ANS). Initial and continuing training for public safety telecommunicators is important as they provide essential services to the public in an expanding and rapidly changing environment.

Limited seats are available in these upcoming courses. Choose from virtual, online or in-person.

Virtual Classroom Courses

• Fire Service Communications, 3rd Edition (32 CDEs) 6/3 - 6/6
• Law Enforcement Communications, 1st Edition (32 CDEs) 6/10 - 6/13 
• Communications Center Manager, 1st Edition (24 CDEs) 6/18 - 6/20
• Communications Center Supervisor, 5th Edition (24 CDEs) 7/17 - 7/19

Online Courses

• Public Safety Staffing and Employee Retention (8 CDEs)  6/12 - 7/2
• Fundamentals of Tactical Dispatch (16 CDEs) 6/19 - 7/9
• Surviving Stress (8 CDEs) 6/19 - 7/9
• Comprehensive Quality (16 CDEs) 6/19 - 7/23

In-Person Courses

• Active Shooter Incidents for Public Safety Communications, 2nd Edition (8 CDEs)
  Worcester, MA, 6/20  | Manchester Center, VT  8/13
• Fundamentals of Next Generation 9-1-1 (16 CDEs)
  Fairfax, VA, 6/27 - 6/28 | Forsyth, GA, 9/10 - 9/11  
• Intermediate Cybersecurity Principles for the ECC (16 CDEs)
  Forsyth, GA, 9/12 - 9/13  

See the course schedule

Federal Engineering Wins PSAP Consolidation Project from Yuba City