A Message From APCO’s President

Each year, the second week in April is known as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. It’s a chance for the more than 100,000 public safety telecommunicators working in emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the United States to be recognized for the lifesaving work you provide to more than 240 million calls every year.

Since our last celebration, our public safety communications heroes were stretched to their limits, some notably impacted by or responding to hurricanes Helene and Milton or raging wildfires in Southern California. Government and private experts estimate total damages to rival hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Harvey topping $50 billion, exacerbated by the fact many of Helene’s victims did not have relevant insurance. Damages from wildfires in Southern California are expected to exceed $250 billion — surpassing the entire 2020 wildfire season. The impact from these storms will be felt for years — if not generations.

I solemnly celebrate those who answer the call, offering the only help anyone could send, even though we may never hear their stories. I applaud those who remain in their ECCs long after the power failed or the lines went quiet, caring for each other. And I know there are many more incidents — some utterly overwhelming — that we will never hear. I’m prayerful for those with stories to tell.

I tip my hat to the National Joint Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce Initiative members – a joint initiative between APCO and NENA — who leapt into action to assist impacted agencies. And I’m thankful for those who volunteer in any capacity with this association, to improve the work we do locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

I celebrate every public safety communications professional wherever they’re found — wherever they’re committed to helping, to serving, to saving lives. The work you do creates ripples far beyond the horizons of our individual lives which is worthy of celebration.

Stephen P. Martini
President, APCO International