News & Publications

The award recipients demonstrated the highest levels of professional conduct and outstanding performance in the line of duty.

President Biden announced the nomination of Anna Gomez to serve as Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the renominations of current Commissioners Carr and Starks.

On May 17-18 more than 250 attendees from public safety communications gathered for the first-ever 9-1-1 Staffing Crisis Summit in Herndon, VA. Sessions varied in topic from an overview of the staffing situation in the U.S. to more specific recruitment and retention strategies from ECCs across the country.

APCO Life Member Mary Katherine Messamore of Marion, Kansas, passed away May 10 at the age of 75. She worked for improvements to the state and national association as well as the public safety communications industry until her retirement in 2011.

Jennifer Savely is a dispatcher for the Kenai Police Department in Alaska. Jennifer has always been interested in dispatch, and when the opportunity presented itself, the Alaskan native didn’t hesitate to apply. Jennifer’s interest in public safety was cultivated at a young age. “Growing up in my household, it was not uncommon for us to have a police scanner on. Just as background noise, and I always found it intriguing. I loved the excitement and wanted to be the voice behind the radio.” Acting on that interest, Jennifer joined the Kenai Police Department. “I had no previous experience, so I…

[Originally published in the May/June 2023 issue of PSC magazine.] By Matt Berg Most of us know that not many people can handle working in an emergency communications center (ECC). We have all heard numbers thrown around such as, “only 1% of the general public can do this job” and “less than 1 in 10 of those hired make it.” A quick Google search shows updated average dispatch tenure is now one to two years, down from three years previously listed. Frequently when discussing this topic we focus on keeping new hires, training them appropriately and acquiring the skills to…