Alexandria, VA — Today marks the beginning of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), a week where communities across the U.S. will recognize those who help save lives in times of personal or national crisis.

Initially conceived in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, Telecommunicators Week was created to raise public awareness of the hard work and dedication of public safety telecommunicators. In October 1991, APCO International successfully lobbied to receive a formal proclamation by Congress, which was signed by President Bill Clinton, designating the second full week in April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

“I want to take this opportunity to truly thank each and every one of the men and women who chose this profession,” said John Wright, president of APCO International. “Thank you for the lives you have saved, for the lives of citizens you have impacted and for the lives you will save each and every day as a public safety professional.”

The general public can honor their calltakers and dispatchers by participating in local celebrations or sending thank you notes to their local communications center. The Association of Public-Safety Officials (APCO) International has established an NPSTW blog where agencies can share celebration ideas, along with photos of this year’s festivities. Citizens can share thoughts of gratitude and personal stories.

Learn more about NPSTW at npstw.org.

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole.