APCO Intl. President: A fully-funded, fully interoperable end-to-end nationwide Next Generation 9-1-1 system won't be easy

The Connect & Celebrate Dinner for APCO 2022 concluded the Conference and Expo in Anaheim, California. The association's officers for 2022–2023 were sworn in while the outgoing and incoming presidents discussed the highlights of the previous year and their plans for the upcoming one. The comic routine brought the evening to a close.

The new Board of Directors and Executive Committee were sworn in by outgoing President Jason Kern and Past President Margie Moulin, respectively. Immediate Past President Kern, Second Vice President Stephen Martini, First Vice President Becky Neugent, and President Angela Batey make up the 2022–2023 Executive Committee.

In an effort to transform the culture, inclusivity, civility, and equity are promoted by the organization, according to Kern, executive director of Southeast Emergency Communications in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

After significant work from select association members across this country and our Institute staff, I’m pleased to say that in 2022, this offering is live and available to any ECC, Kern said.
He stated that APCO “to support this critical advancement and modernization of an antiquated emergency system" by advocating for federal funding of NG9-1-1.

The APCO Health and Wellness Committee, according to Kern, is concentrating on the emotional and physical health of public safety telecommunicators since "the impact of those calls is intimidating" for them because they respond to a quarter-billion 9-1-1 calls annually.

APCO President Batey (pictured), manager of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center's Curriculum Services Section, took Kern's place at the stage. With regard to diversity and inclusion education, NG9-1-1, and telecommunicator reclassification, she demanded a consistent approach in the coming year.

“Together, we will continue to work for a fully-funded, fully interoperable end-to-end nationwide Next Generation 9-1-1 system,” Batey said. “And yes, together, we will continue to fight until the federal government officially recognizes the lifesaving work we do by properly classifying public safety telecommunicators within the protective services occupation classification. The work will not be easy, but anything worth accomplishing rarely is.”