Alexandria, VA — In recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), April 9-15, 2017, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International joins communities, government leaders and 9-1-1 communications centers to honor members of the 9-1-1 community who help save lives in times of personal or national crisis.

NPSTW is the annual opportunity to thank 9-1-1 public safety telecommunicators, technicians, trainers, supervisors, managers and other 9-1-1 professionals across the country who protect the lives of the public and first responders every day.

“On behalf of APCO’s leadership and staff, thank you for your steadfast professionalism and dedication, for your grace under pressure, and your compassion when people are most in need.  We celebrate you, and we support you.  We encourage you take the time this week to celebrate yourselves and support each other.  No one deserves it more,” said Cheryl J. Greathouse, president of APCO International.

APCO has established a website (www.npstw.org) dedicated to this week of recognition where individuals can share their stories about working in this important profession.  There are also resources and tips to help plan NPSTW 2017 activities.

In addition, with the federal government nearing a final decision on whether to update its classification system describing occupations in the United States, APCO has launched a White House petition entitled “9-1-1 Professionals Should be Recognized for Protecting and Saving Lives.”  The goal of this petition, timed with NPSTW, is to draw attention to the need to classify Public Safety Telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations.  Be sure to sign this petition and encourage many others to do the same by sharing this link: www.apcointl.org/whitehousepetition.

Learn more about NPSTW at www.npstw.org.

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.