As part of APCO’s ongoing effort to increase recognition and respect for 9-1-1 professionals, we are offering suggestions for job descriptions that will align with the protective, lifesaving nature of the work. These suggestions may look familiar, as they mirror the recommendations APCO made for revising the federal government’s catalogue of occupations and the published findings of APCO’s Project 43 report on Broadband Implications for the PSAP. We are seeing major changes for public safety communications. To improve recruitment, retention, and recognition for 9-1-1 professionals, job descriptions may require updating to highlight the challenging, life-or-death nature of the work performed, and potentially to eliminate or avoid over-emphasizing any clerical tasks that were more relevant to the early days of 9-1-1.  Read the full message.

APCO International has announced the recipients of its prestigious 2018 Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards, who will be honored during APCO's Annual Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner in Arlington, VA, on May 1, 2018.

APCO's Public Safety Broadband Summit, being held May 1-2, 2018, in Arlington, VA, is the premier annual, DC-based opportunity to discuss the latest technology advancements impacting public safety communications networks. Topics include next generation 9-1-1, location accuracy, FirstNet, broadband technology, cybersecurity, and more. For more information

APCO announced the keynote speakers for APCO 2018: Sal Giunta, Medal of Honor recipient, for the Opening General Session; Gary Heil, founder of the Center for Innovative Leadership, for the Distinguished Achievers Breakfast; and Connie Podesta, expert in changing lives, for the Food for Thought Luncheon. 

Leslie Carroll has worked for over thirty years in the emergency communications field on both state and municipal levels. The Boston Police Operations Division provided Leslie with a public safety foundation which led to the successful development of children’s 9-1-1 educational programs in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Leslie has been actively involved as an instructor in the implementation of three enhanced-911 communications systems in Massachusetts in 1994, 2008 and 2017 and in New Hampshire from 1995-1998 where she served as the Operations Supervisor.

Leslie served on several public safety committees throughout her career. She began as a contributing author for the APCO Communications Center Supervisor Course, served as publicity co-chair for the 2000 APCO International Conference, Past President of the Massachusetts Communications Supervisor Association and Member-at-Large for the APCO Atlantic Chapter Board. Leslie’s devotion to training is evidenced through the online and live APCO classes she has taught as an Adjunct Instructor since 1998. She is currently the Civilian Dispatch Training Coordinator for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Department.

APCO is seeking additional participants for a workgroup that will create an ANSI standard addressing key performance indicators (KPIs) for public safety communications personnel. This standard will provide comm center management with the standards for measurements necessary to gauge the effectiveness of personnel performance. Learn more about this and other workgroup opportunities.

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