Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
In our profession, we often see examples of dedicated professionals going above and beyond the call of duty. This program allows anyone to nominate a teammate and tell us about how they went into action.
This program is not meant to take the place of or be equal to the APCO International Public Safety Communications Awards Program. Instead, Teammates in Action recognizes the everyday work of thousands upon thousands of public safety telecommunicators across the globe. Rather than award a body of work, this program recognizes an act or action during a singular incident. Overlooked far too often are the heroic actions taken daily by telecommunicators. This program hopes to bring these to light and give everyone a chance to recognize these daily actions.
How It Works
- Anyone working in an emergency communications center can be nominated. This includes, but is not limited to, public safety telecommunicators, supervisors, managers, directors and/or administrators, trainers and coordinators, quality assurance personnel, IT personnel, and radio technicians.
- Anyone can be the nominator (co-worker, supervisor, manager, director, etc.). Just complete the form below.
- The Member & Chapter Services committee reviews the submissions and submits recommendations for recognition.
- Once a nomination is selected, a member of the committee will:
- Contact the direct supervisor and/or ECC director to confirm the actions.
- Confirm in writing what details of the story are approved for publication.
- Request additional materials, including photos, newspaper articles, etc., that may be added to the article.
- An article recognizing the Teammate in Action will be posted on APCO social media platforms. Recognized teammates will receive an electronic certificate.
Recent Teammates-in-Action
Teammates-in-Action: Raionna Temple, Mackenzie Bunker, Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications
This month’s Teammates in Action Awards go to two members of the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications.
Teammates-in-Action: Amy Wilson, Northwest Central Dispatch System
On December 1, 2023, Telecommunicator Amy Wilson, of the Northwest Central Dispatch System in Illinois, answered a call for a subject with a knife at a residence.
Teammates-in-Action: Troop C, Missouri State Highway Patrol Communications
On September 11, 2023, what appeared to be a malicious attack on the REJIS system, agencies’ law enforcement printers were re-routed to Troop C.
Teammates-in-Action: Katie Minor, Karimah Young, Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications
On October 26, 2023, the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications received a 9-1-1 call from a male who was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital.
Teammates in Action: Lesly Hernandez, Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications
On December 26, 2023, 9-1-1 Operator, Lesly Hernandez of the Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications answered a 9-1-1 call for an 88-year-old female who was suffering from chest pain and shortness of breath.