APCO International mourns the loss of Joseph Y. Nasser Jr., PhD, past president of APCO International (1986-1987). Nasser, of Tallahassee, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, after a long and dedicated career in public safety communications.

“I remember Joe very well as a colleague who worked hard for the betterment of public safety through our association,” says Vinnie Stile, another APCO past president (2003). “He will be missed as one of our true leaders.”

Nasser began his career in public safety as a public safety officer in Oak Park, Mich. He joined the Daytona Beach (Fla.) Police Department and then the Volusia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, where he advanced to the rank of captain and civil defense director.

Following his APCO Board service and retirement from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Nasser began consulting work in public safety communications. In 1997, Joe merged his consulting practice with Omnicom Inc. of Tallahassee, Fla., where he advanced to the position of information systems director. In 2000 RCC Consultants Inc. acquired Omnicom, and Nasser was promoted to director and later to vice president and general manager of the RCC Public Safety Information Systems division.

“Joe was noted for unending enthusiasm about new technologies, techniques, and accepting challenging assignments,” said RCC President Michael Hunter in a statement released by the company. “[We] are saddened by the passing of our dear friend and esteemed colleague.”

Nasser is survived by his wife, Jan, five children and eight grandchildren. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

More information is available at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tallahassee/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-nasser&pid=155236298.