A Message from APCO’s President

Since I became your APCO president in August 2015, I have been talking about the importance of WE and I can’t think of a better time to reinforce that than during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW).

You might work in a big city consolidated PSAP or a rural 9-1-1 center, and you might be using basic equipment or be outfitted with NG9-1-1 technology, but you are all part of the tremendous network of public safety telecommunicators that provide the voice of our emergency services. You make up the WE of our association and our profession.

When a child calls because his father is “asleep” and can’t be awakened …

When a grandfather sees something suspicious during his walk …

When a neighbor reports a fire …

When a teen reaches out with suicidal thoughts …

When an about-to-be-father realizes he is going to have to help his wife deliver their child at home …

When a rookie policeman reports an officer in trouble …

WE are there to answer the call, to send the right emergency services, to provide support while they wait.

Every call-taker, dispatcher, supervisor, manager, trainer … everyone involved in this industry … has at least one story, if not many, that stayed with them, that highlighted and formed their career. I invite you to read some of those stories on the NPSTW website and share your own.

My story started in an 8 x 12 foot room, with a radio console, microphone and five-line push-button phone, where I kept handwritten radio logs, and time-stamped incident cards with received, dispatched, arrival and completion times. As you can imagine, I have seen much change in my career, and we are moving quickly into another period of great change. I can say with certainty, however, that my immense pride in and respect for the members of this community will never change.

Thank you for your service. Enjoy NPSTW 2016; you deserve it.

Brent Lee
President, APCO International