Three New Attendees Look at APCO 2025

Three first-time APCO conference attendees from O’Fallon Police Department, Missouri, wrote up their experience about what the conference meant to them.  APCO Conference & ExpoBy Mike Conte The 2025 APCO Conference and Expo, what an experience it was. With our division recently becoming members of this organization, I went into this conference not knowing what […]

P25 Compliance Assessment Program Meeting

Several public safety agencies overseeing P25 radio systems, their equipment manufacturers and FirstNet representatives met at APCO 2025 to review and discuss the progress of the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP). This quarterly meeting was hosted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) and moderated by APCO’s contract […]

APCO 2025: Connect & Celebrate Dinner

The last act of APCO 2025 came with the Connect and Celebrate Dinner in the Baltimore Convention Center on Wednesday, July 30. It featured the swearing in of the 2025-2026 Executive Committee, a summing up by the outgoing president and the vision of the incoming one.

APCO 2025: Food for Thought Luncheon

On the final day of APCO 2025, the Food for Thought Luncheon in the Baltimore Convention Center hosted more than 1,000 public safety communications professionals. Attendees on Wednesday, July 30, recognized agencies that earned APCO accreditation; heard about Baltimore’s advances in public safety communications and about APCO 2026’s San Antonio destination; and were inspired by the founder of Because I Said I would, a mental health resiliency charity based on keeping promises.

Beyond the Call:  Recognizing Human Trafficking

This session focused on the prevalence of human trafficking in the United States, highlighting that it is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the country, generating over $52 billion annually.

Managing a Multigenerational Workforce

She began with a key reminder: no generation fits neatly into a “box.” Understanding generational traits is helpful, but individuals often carry traits from multiple generations — especially “cuspers,” who she defined as those born at the edge of generational lines.

CAPRAD Technical Seminar

Public safety frequency coordinators, radio engineers and other interested persons participated at APCO 2025 in a day of training on the Computer Assisted Pre-coordination Resource & Database (CAPRAD) system.

APCO 2025: 2nd General Business Session

The Second General Business Session of APCO 2025 on Tuesday unveiled the executive committee lineup, showcased the state of the association, and highlighted federal government partners who discussed how they can promote progress in public safety communications.

APCO 2025: Distinguished Achievers Breakfast

The APCO 2025 Distinguished Achievers Breakfast on Tuesday in the Baltimore Convention Center celebrated professional excellence. Following recognition of Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) graduates and earners of agency accreditation, a keynote speaker described how APCO members could achieve excellence beyond what they ever thought possible.

Artificial Intelligence Integration in 9-1-1 Centers

Jeremy Hill of the NTIA led a compelling panel discussion on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in 9-1-1 centers, sharing insights from a yearlong NTIA project, which conducted a comprehensive cross-country analysis to document the transformative impact AI is already having on public safety communications.

Overcoming Bias & Burnout in 9-1-1 Training

With a background in psychology and human services, Frye combines research-based insights and real-world applications to help trainers navigate the complexities of working with diverse trainee personalities.

APCO 2025: Opening General Session

APCO 2025 attendees packed the massive Baltimore Convention Center ballroom on Monday morning for the Opening General Session where the governor of Maryland, the APCO CEO & Executive Director, and the APCO president welcomed the assembled membership. They were followed by Emergency Communications Center Award winners and a keynote speaker who said we can all make a positive difference in the lives of those around us and told stories about those who did.

What is NG9-1-1: Fact or Fiction

This session addressed key concepts of Next Generation 9-1-1, including interoperability, reliability and redundancy, cybersecurity and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

FCC Update on Public Safety Proceedings

The annual FCC update provided attendees with the latest information on federal actions impacting public safety communications. Representatives from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau — from both the Policy and Licensing Division and the Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division — shared updates on key rulemakings and initiatives affecting public safety communications.

Lifesaving Connections Through 9-1-1 Education

Cortney Lyskoski of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office delivered a passionate and practical presentation on the importance of 9-1-1 public education, drawing from her years of experience developing and expanding Ada County’s education program.

AI – Let’s Talk a Bot it!

This Think Tank session provided an overview of how AI voice/chat bots work, foundational concepts of conversational design and bot training tools, and ideas for applications in your operations workflows.

Hostage or Hoax? An Audio Case Study

Sarah Franz, Deputy Director for Aurora 911, delivered an interactive and compelling presentation exploring crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies through a real-life 9-1-1 call.

APCO 2025: First General Business Session

PCO 2025 attendees on Sunday heard about goals of the second vice president candidate, they considered an amendment to the association policy manual, and the new chief counsel laid out governmental strides for public safety communications.