Daytona Beach, Fla. — The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International will honor recipients of APCO’s Annual Public Safety Communications Award Program at the 2011 Conference & Exposition in Philadelphia, Pa. this August.

APCO presents seven categories of annual awards to public safety communications personnel who demonstrate the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the line of duty.

Bill Carrow, president of APCO International said, “I want to thank all nominees and recipients of these awards for their hard work and diligence in their active pursuit of excellence in their career, for their communications center and within the realm of public safety.”

The 2011 award winners are:

• Richard Garman, Grays Harbor Communications E9-1-1, Aberdeen, Wash. — Telecommunicator of the Year
• Robin Schmidt, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, West Palm Beach, Fla. — Communications Center Director of the Year
• Shayl McCormick, City of Tucson Communications Division, Tucson, Ariz. — Line Supervisor of the Year
• Peter Loewenheim, Washington County, Communications Maintenance, Hagerstown, Md. — Radio Frequency (RF) Technologist of the Year
• Robert Jeffrey, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Winter Park, Fla. — Information Technologist of the Year
• Connie Felten, Lee’s Summit Police Department, Lee’s Summit, Mo. — Trainer of the Year
• Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Tucson, Ariz. — Team of the Year

APCO members submitted nominations for telecommunications staff, members or nonmembers of APCO, employed in the applicable category by a public safety agency at any time between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011. Nominees were reviewed by the Awards Committee and APCO’s Executive Committee finalized the award winners.

Winners receive a fully paid trip including registration, travel expenses, and hotel accommodations to obtain their award at APCO’s 2011 Annual Conference. Recipients will also be featured in APCO’s magazine, Public Safety Communications.

More information on the Awards and APCO’s Annual Conference is available on APCO’s website, http://apcointl.org.

About APCO International
APCO International is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide—and the welfare of the general public as a whole—by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach. www.apcointl.org.