Operations
Report from the 3rd Annual APCO Women’s Conference
April 14, 2011Fact: Currently, no women serve on the APCO International Executive Committee. Designed to empower, connect and cultivate leaders, the Women in Public Safety Communications Leadership Symposium was held in Orlando, April 13-14. In his statement kicking off the opening session, APCO First Vice President Gregg Riddle made it clear to attendees that women are integral to this industry, saying, “Think about stepping up at the chapter level and ultimately at the association level because we certainly need your perspectives and your service.”
Read full articleLESA Meets, Exceeds Call Answering Performance Goal
April 13, 2011Tacoma, Wash. (April 11, 2011): After three years of focused and steady improvement, the Law Enforcement Support Agency (LESA) concluded…
Read full articleMark Brady Makes His Mark as PIO
April 7, 2011Throughout his 33 years with his agency, Mark Brady, public relations manager and public information officer for the Prince George’s County (Md.) Fire/EMS, has served his community well — as fire dispatcher for 17 years and now as the liaison between the department and the public.
Read full articleLife Inside Aurora’s (Colo.) 9-1-1 Call Center
April 7, 2011Aurora, Colo. — Clayton Velarde might never see the people on the other end of the line, or know what happens to them when the call ends. But every day, he bears the responsibility of helping the strangers that dial 9-1-1.
Read full articleSlain Officer’s Family Sues County, 911 Administrators
April 6, 2011An attorney for the estate of slain Pittsburgh police Officer Eric Kelly sued Allegheny County and administrators of the 911 system yesterday, the two-year anniversary of the shootings that killed three officers in Stanton Heights.
Read full articleMunhall, Pa., Seeks 911 Monies
April 6, 2011Munhall, Pa. — Munhall officials once again are trying to get back money residents pay toward Allegheny County 9-1-1 because the borough has its own dispatch system. Borough solicitor Greg Evashavik has sent a letter to the county requesting the funds be paid back from the last several years.
Read full articleTexas Counties Could See Cuts in 9-1-1 Funds
April 6, 2011San Antonio, Texas — A state-proposed $478,000 cut to 911 programs in rural counties near San Antonio won’t affect the number of first responders, but it might mean they can’t react as effectively.
Read full articleWhere’s the Money?
March 31, 2011Much of what Congress, the FCC and other federal agencies attempt to do in the realm of public safety telecommunications policy is to promote efficiency and enhanced capabilities, such as interoperability, broadband radio communications and NG9-1-1. In the private sector, these goals would be pursued in the interest of profits, potentially opening the door to capital investments to turn the goals into reality. The government sector obviously lacks a profit motive and must appropriate funds purely on the basis of improving the public good. That simple reality sometimes gets lost when telecommunications policy is being made.
Read full articleNational Public Safety Telecommunications Week is April 10-16
March 30, 2011National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (April 10-16, 2011) was established by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office in 1981 to raise awareness of the hard work and dedication of 9-1-1 calltakers, dispatchers and other telecommunications staff.
Read full articleAPCO International Project 33 Training Standard Model for Arkansas Public Safety Telecommunicator Training
March 28, 2011Daytona Beach, Fla. – On Wednesday, March 23rd, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe signed a bill into law that makes minimum training available for public safety telecommunicators across the state. The bill, HB 1741(now Act 640) which was filed on February 28, passed through the state House and Senate with no opposition.
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