Newtown, Conn.

To commemorate National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (NPSTW), the APCO International Executive Committee—President Terry Hall, First Vice President Gigi Smith, Second Vice President John Wright and Immediate Past President Gregg Riddle—visited various locations around the Boston, Newtown, Conn., and New York City areas.

On Monday, April 15, Executive Committee members visited the Verizon LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and later moved to Worcester, Mass., for a series of meetings. While in Worcester, APCO Board member and director of the Department of Emergency Communications, David W. Clemons met with the committee and provided a tour of the emergency communications center, on Tuesday, April 16.

By now, most have learned that on Monday afternoon April 15, a terrorist attack occurred during the Boston Marathon resulting in three deaths and more than 150 injuries. Upon hearing the news, the Executive Committee members arranged for pizzas to be delivered to the telecommunicators at the Boston Fire Dispatch Communications Center, many of whom were working off duty or working a double shift in order to cope with the incident.

Then on Wednesday, April 17, the Executive Committee made a presentation on behalf of APCO to the women and men of the Newtown Emergency Communications Center, honoring their hard work and courage in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, which occurred on Dec. 14, 2012. In addition to the presentation, the Executive Committee also met with several Selectmen from the Village of Newtown and participated in an awards ceremony for Smart 9-1-1 Telecommunicator of the Year as part of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Week celebrations in Newtown.

And finally, on Thursday, April 18, Deputy Chief Chuck Dowd hosted members of the Executive Committee at the New York City Police Department, where they received a tour of the communications center. They also attended a communications graduation, and met with New York City Police command staff.

APCO International President Terry Hall participates in graduation ceremony for communication officials at the New York City Police Department

APCO Executive Committee tours the Verizon LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass.

Worcester: Department of Emergency Communications Welcomes APCO!

Boston Loves APCO! – a delivery of pizza’s from the APCO Executive Committee provided some much needed support to the men and women at the Boston Fire Dispatch Center.