Silent Key: T. G. Mieure

APCO Life Member and long-time Illinois police and communications officer T. G. Mieure of Waukegan passed away on June 17 at the age of 71.

Mieure was a pillar of Illinois APCO for decades and a respected voice in the international APCO community.

Silent Key: Donna Marie Bird

Longtime APCO member Donna Bird passed away after 48 years of distinguished service to Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC), helping to shape both the foundation and future of 9-1-1 in the county.

Silent Key: Weldon Joe Blair

Weldon Joe Blair, 88, a life and senior member of APCO, passed away January 4.

Joe was a U.S. Army veteran and worked on classified projects for Collins Radio. He also worked at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. A lifetime member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Joe enjoyed meeting and talking to people worldwide as a Ham Radio operator.

Silent Key: Past President Nate McClure

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Nathan Dixon McClure, III, 80, at his Lynchburg, Virginia, home on December 20, 2024. Nate was a Life Member of APCO and joined the association nearly 60 years ago. His contributions covered many years of service to numerous committees, including as APCO’s president from 1978-1979 and […]

Silent Key: Mark Spross

Mark Spross, RPL, CPE and APCO International’s second vice president, passed away last weekend. 

Silent Key: Lysa Renee Baker

Lysa Renee Baker, RPL, CPE, passed away Jan. 26 in Yukon, Oklahoma, at the age of 48. Baker served in public safety for more than 25 years, marked by notable achievements.

Silent Key: Paul Linnée

Paul Linnée, 76, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has passed away after a life contributing to public safety communications.

Silent Key: Tiffany Nicole Gibbs

Tiffany Nicole Gibbs, assistant communications supervisor, Orange County (North Carolina) Emergency Services, passed away August 22. Gibbs, 40, of Burlington, was a North Carolina APCO member. Gibbs was known for her unwavering dedication and calmness during emergencies. Her commitment to her work saved countless lives and brought comfort to those in distress. Her tireless efforts […]

Silent Key: Richard H. Tuma

APCO member Richard H. Tuma, 76, passed away June 16, at his home in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, after a long career in public safety.

Silent Key: Mary Katherine Messamore

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.

Silent Key: Joseph Robert Gately

Born in 1950, he graduated from Peninsula Catholic High School in Newport News and then spent more than 54 years in the communications and technology industry, starting with Gately Communications as president then later as chairman of the board.

Silent Key: Frank L. Huggins Jr.

Frank L. Huggins Jr., the 1993-1994 president of APCO, passed away March 4 in Asheville, North Carolina, at 87.

Huggins, of Swannanoa, was active in the public safety communications industry and APCO throughout his 39-year career in the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Throughout his career, Huggins aided technological, legislative and educational improvements to the operations of public safety communications.

Silent Key: Crystal Gail Vincent

APCO member and Polk County (Georgia) E-911 Director Crystal Gail Vincent, 46, of Cedartown, passed away January 28 after an extended illness.

Silent Key: Jennifer Garner

Southwest (Texas) Regional Communications Center Deputy Director Jennifer Garner, 46, of Waxahachie died Tuesday. Garner had served as Texas APCO secretary. She suffered from cancer.

Silent Key: Donald Ray Whitney

APCO Life Member Don Whitney passed away December 28. Whitney enjoyed a long tenure in public safety communications for Motorola and was a longstanding member of the Commercial Advisory Council (CAC), including service on the APCO Board of Directors.

Silent Key: Sammye Foster Cotton

Sammye Foster Cotton of Wills Point, Texas, passed way Nov. 16 at the age of 43 after a battle with ALS. Cotton was Garland (Texas) Police Department Communications Manager and an APCO member who previously worked for McKinney (Texas) Police Department and the Commerce (Texas) Police Department.

Silent Key: Bob Marz

Bob Marz, an APCO life member, passed away October 5 at home in South Ogden, Utah, with his family. He was 87.

Silent Key: John J. Daly

John J. Daly, 66, whose life was dedicated to public safety in Collier County, Florida, passed away August 22 at a Cape Cod, Massachusetts, hospital after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Silent Key: Max Thwaits III

Max Thwaits III, the Essex County (New York) emergency services director, passed away September 19. Thwaits, of Au Sable Forks, was 40. He was a member of the APCO Atlantic Chapter.

Silent Key: RoxAnn Brown

APCO Life Member RoxAnn Brown passed away July 27 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. She was retired from public safety communications and had been active in APCO before retirement. Services are pending.

Silent Key: Todd A. Austin

Todd A. Austin of Burbank, California, an APCO member and emergency communications center manager for the Los Angeles Police Department Communications Division, passed away May 2. He was 52. Austin worked for the LAPD ECC for 22 years and rose to the rank of senior police service representation officer in charge of operations support unit […]

Silent Key: Stephanie A. Kulowiec

Brookfield Police Department public safety telecommunicator Stephanie A. Kulowiec of Brookfield, Connecticut, passed away on Sunday, April 17. Kulowiec was a member of the APCO Atlantic Chapter. in a social media post, The Brookfield Police Department praised Kulowiec’s participation in community charitable events and wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce to you […]