North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1) and Motorola Solutions turned public safety children’s art into building-sized murals in North Central Texas.
APCO 2026: Connect & Celebrate Dinner
The Connect & Celebrate Dinner in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Wednesday, Aug. 5, featured award presentations, the swearing-in of the Board members and of the 2026-2027 Executive Committee. It also featured the farewell and inaugural addresses from outgoing President Jack Varnado and incoming President Michael O’Connor.
APCO 2026: Food for Thought Luncheon
APCO 2026’s Food for Thought Lunch on Wednesday at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center honored chapters for membership growth, recognized agencies for training accreditation, presented individual honors and looked to next year’s conference in Anaheim. A confidence coach and bestselling author closed with a pitch for why personal confidence pays off for you and those around you.
Wilderness Wellness for 9-1-1 Dispatchers
Wilderness wellness is built on three simple pillars: engaging with nature, connecting with others and incorporating movement. For 9-1-1 dispatchers, whose work demands constant exposure to trauma, this approach offers a science‑backed method for lifting the mental “cloud” that forms when difficult calls linger in our minds.
The Human Firewall
Cyberattacks against organizations are no longer a matter of if, but when. Bixler brought cyber preparedness down to the public safety telecommunicator level, emphasizing that everyone should know the initial steps in responding to a cyber incident.
AI Meets Adult Learning: Smarter Tools for Training
Halcyon Frank’s session regarding AI in training delivered information from a perspective of working “smarter” by using an AI tool as an additional set of eyes for creating and completing workflows in training.
Call for Help! Teaching Kids About 9-1-1 & Emergencies
The first step is defining what it is 9-1-1 does and who the people are who help when you call. The goal is to build understanding about the profession and trust in her and other public safety telecommunicators.
Your Leadership Is a Trauma Response (and It’s Not Working)
Only four percent of the population meets the criteria for mission-critical leadership.
Gossip, Grudges, and Group Chats
The speaker addressed a challenge every 9-1-1 center faces in today’s digital world, where screenshots, text messages, and social media can quickly impact trust, teamwork, and professionalism.
How to Lose a 9-1-1 Trainee in 10 Ways
Training a new telecommunicator is about far more than teaching policies, procedures, and protocols. It is about shaping confidence, building trust and creating an environment where new professionals can grow into the role.
Think Tank: The Myth of Work-Life Balance
Among public safety personnel, including telecommunicators, fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. The rate is even higher for second marriages and even higher yet if both partners are in public safety.
APCO 2026: Second General Business Session
The Second General Business Session of APCO 2026 on Tuesday in the Henry B. González Convention Center selected a new executive committee, reviewed the association’s annual progress, passed a bylaws amendment and featured five federal and industry public safety communications partners.
APCO 2026: Distinguished Achievers Breakfast
The APCO 2026 Distinguished Achievers Breakfast on Tuesday at the Henry B. González Convention Center recognized corporate partners, Certified Public-Safety Executive (CPE) graduates and agencies achieving national accreditation. It was capped by a keynote address from Olympic hurdler and Pan American Games silver medalist Sarah Wells on building a culture of excellence.
Marketing Your 9-1-1 Center
People often know what 9-1-1 is, but they don’t know who 9-1-1 is.
From the Ground Up: Rebuilding an Outdated Training Program
Training programs can become outdated, inconsistent, redundant and ineffective over the years without constantly updating and revamping the required learning materials.
APCO 2026: Opening General Session
APCO 2026 attendees filled the San Antonio Convention Center ballroom Monday for the Opening General Session, where a Bexar County sheriff, the APCO CEO and the APCO president welcomed the membership before a mental health expert urged telecommunicators to make six daily choices to build a less anxious life.
The Wizard & I: AI Use in Public Safety Communications and Law Enforcement
The AI revolution is ongoing in public safety communications. Two members of law enforcement and an attorney discussed how agencies can harness the revolution and maintain appropriate controls as they do.
Building Successful Teams, the Ted Lasso Way
Matt Grogan and Nathan Lee delivered a powerful message centered on a truth that is easy to forget in an era of artificial intelligence and rapidly advancing technology: 9-1-1 has always been, and will always be, about people.
Social Media Made Simple for 9-1-1: Real Examples & Tools
In this session, Justin Bagby, Telecommunications Supervisor for Louisville Metro Emergency Services (MetroSafe) in Kentucky, shared ways smaller agencies or agencies with no dedicated public information officer can easily create content for social media.
Capitol Insights: From the Desk of Government Affairs
This panel brought together experts in government affairs from four leading 9-1-1 and public safety organizations to discuss current federal policy issues that could shape the future of 9-1-1 and emergency communications.
Building the Next Generation of 911 Professionals
The presentation focused on several aspects that hit every ECC in today’s world. as she discussed the opportunity she had working with her local Career & Tech Education (CTE) department.
Fix Your Face (and Your Attitude)
How does perception affect us? Perception is reality. One person can set the tone for the entire shift. They can have either a positive or negative impact on morale.
APCO 2026: First General Business Session
APCO 2026 kicked off officially Sunday with the First General Business Session as attendees heard the platform of the second vice president candidate, considered a bylaws amendment to add at-large seats to the Board of Directors, and got an update from APCO’s chief counsel on the association’s legislative and regulatory priorities.
Tik Tok the Time to Start Community Engagement Is Now
In this session, Ingham County 911 dispatch supervisor Danielle Harris gave the next best thing — tangible ways for emergency communications centers (ECCs) to approach community engagement through in-person events and on social media.
“Mean Girls” – Cliques in Dispatch
Sunday, August 2 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Sara J. Meyer, Accreditions Specialist, Boon County Joint Communications (Mo.) Cliques impact every emergency communications center, whether we admit it or not. Sara Meyer started this year’s educational sessions addressing the topic with a unique twist by referencing the popular movie from 2004 throughout the presentation. The […]
