On April 30, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation voted to advance the bipartisan Enhancing First Response Act (S.725) to the full Senate for consideration. This bill, among other provisions, would direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as a “Protective Service Occupation” in the Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) catalog. […]
APCO Welcomes Legislation to Help Provide Health and Wellness Resources for 9-1-1 Professionals
On March 17, the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 911 Act, or the ‘‘PROTECT 9-1-1 Act,” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 9-1-1 professionals routinely face significant trauma as they work tirelessly to protect and save lives.
Young Professional Spotlight: Ashley Michels, St. Charles City Police Department (Mo.)
Ashley Michels, the Communications Unit Supervisor at the St. Charles City Police Department in Missouri, embodies resilience, adaptability, a deep-seated dedication to serving others and more.
APCO International Announces Nicole McGinnis as New Chief Counsel
APCO International announced this week that Nicole McGinnis has accepted the position of Chief Counsel. Nicole joins APCO after serving the last 10 years in various leadership positions with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
Eye of the Storm
As a public safety telecommunicator in Buncombe County, North Carolina, for more than eight years, I have experienced many critical incidents. But nothing could have prepared me for the catastrophe that the city of Asheville experienced during Hurricane Helene.
APCO Hosts Second 9-1-1 Wellness Summit
On March 2-3, more than 150 attendees gathered for the second 9-1-1 Wellness Summit in Portland, Oregon.
Young Professional Spotlight: Haley Wright, City of Shawnee 9-1-1 (Okla.)
The APCO Young Professionals Committee is proud to announce Haley Wright as the January 2025 Spotlight winner.
The Livestream Leap
For years the 9-1-1 industry has been told that Next Generation 9-1-1 is on the horizon — it is coming soon so get ready. ECCs around the country are adopting technology that brings either livestreaming video into the 9-1-1 center or live 9-1-1 calls into the patrol car.
APCO International Announces Recipients of the 9-1-1 Impact Awards
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announces the recipients of its inaugural 9-1-1 Impact Awards, who will be honored during an awards reception in Washington, D.C. The 9-1-1 Impact Awards replace the Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards to encompass a wider range of eligible recipients.
Silent Key: Weldon Joe Blair
Weldon Joe Blair, 88, a life and senior member of APCO, passed away January 4.
Joe was a U.S. Army veteran and worked on classified projects for Collins Radio. He also worked at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. A lifetime member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Joe enjoyed meeting and talking to people worldwide as a Ham Radio operator.
