This week is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. You may see post from local departments and organizations recognizing their dispatchers and telecommunications personnel. These front line first responders are the ones who often are the very first contact with citizens during some of the worst day in their lives, and they have a huge responsibility in obtaining and transmitting information to our first responders. Their ability to remain calm, and do this, as well as provide potential live saving information is critical in our communities. Make sure to give them a big thank you this week, and all year long when you see them for the extremely important role they play in keeping everyone safe and healthy and in supporting your local emergency agencies.

Every year during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community, are honored. This week-long event, initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication.

We encourage all of you to celebrate and honor yourselves, your co-workers, your bosses and your employees. Host a party, reach out to your local media and public officials, or launch an awards program. Use the tools and suggestions on this blog to help you make National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2023 a memorable one for you and your colleagues.

Thank you, again, for all the sacrifices you make to create a better and safer world for the public. Your commitment to your profession is appreciated by all of APCO International, the public safety communications community, and the citizens you serve.

This week’s for you!

~ APCO International

Each year, the second week in April is known as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. It’s a chance for the more than 100,000 public safety telecommunicators working in emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the United States to be recognized for the lifesaving work you provide to more than 240 million calls every year.

Since our last celebration, our public safety communications heroes were stretched to their limits, some notably impacted by or responding to hurricanes Helene and Milton or raging wildfires in Southern California. Government and private experts estimate total damages to rival hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Harvey topping $50 billion, exacerbated by the fact many of Helene’s victims did not have relevant insurance. Damages from wildfires in Southern California are expected to exceed $250 billion — surpassing the entire 2020 wildfire season. The impact from these storms will be felt for years — if not generations.

I solemnly celebrate those who answer the call, offering the only help anyone could send, even though we may never hear their stories. I applaud those who remain in their ECCs long after the power failed or the lines went quiet, caring for each other. And I know there are many more incidents — some utterly overwhelming — that we will never hear. I’m prayerful for those with stories to tell.

I tip my hat to the National Joint Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce Initiative members – a joint initiative between APCO and NENA — who leapt into action to assist impacted agencies. And I’m thankful for those who volunteer in any capacity with this association, to improve the work we do locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

I celebrate every public safety communications professional wherever they’re found — wherever they’re committed to helping, to serving, to saving lives. The work you do creates ripples far beyond the horizons of our individual lives which is worthy of celebration.

Stephen P. Martini
President, APCO International