Monday NENA Story

Scattered clouds, high 90°

1997 Annual Conference
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO)

Monday, August 11th

by Gary Allen

[links are photos]

(Charlotte, S.C., 4:30 p.m. EDT) -- After several years of resisting standards established by an APCO committee for digital radio, Ericsson Inc. may be back in the game to bid on Project 25-compliant systems.

At the first business meeting of APCO, incoming president Joseph McNeil made a passing reference to "agreements on the horizon" in connection with the association's Project 25. During an exclusive talk with DISPATCH Monthly Editor Gary Allen after the meeting, he said that Motorola informed APCO yesterday that Motorola had been meeting with several companies involved with Project 25. During those talks, McNeil said that committee members and their associated companies had come closer together on standards issues.

McNeil did not mention Ericsson by name, however that company has been a stalwart opponent of Project 25 standards. Ericsson has claimed that the adopted technical requirements for digital radio do not serve public safety and that other solutions would provide better use of the spectrum. Ericsson has even taken out full-page ads in major public safety publications to state its point of view. Motorola has also purchased ads to make counter claims. While large-scale contracts for Project 25-compliant systems are just now being awarded, Ericsson's decision has undoubtedly cost it several million dollars in business, and their continued resistance could have left them with a non-standard, proprietary technology.

No Motorola or Ericsson spokesperson could be located immediately to comment on this news. However, DISPATCH Monthly will continue to pursue this story during the APCO conference and bring you on-line updates (see Wednesday Flash News).

(Charlotte, S.C. 11:50 p.m. EDT) -- The first general session of APCO was held this afternoon, a luncheon featuring a huge plate of mashed potatoes, chicken-fried steak, vegetables, rolls and iced tea. In fact, this town is one place where iced tea can be ordered without the waiter looking at you weird.

On the front stage were several city and county officials, including Charlotte Mayor Pat McCoy, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Harlin McEwen, and U.S. Representative Curt Weldon. After brief introductions and the national anthem, APCO president Marilyn Ward invited the attendees to eat their lunch. Then it was time for speeches from the celebrities.

Rep. Curt Weldon (Penn.) is a former mayor, county commissioner and volunteer fire chief who is serving his sixth term in Congress. Interestingly, he is fluent in Russian, too. During Weldon's speech he acknowledged APCO's role in helping to educating Congress in the needs of public safety and pointing out the need for more spectrum. He implored APCO members to become more politically involved in order to gain what they need full remarks.

Weldon also introduced a local State Farm Insurance agent, who presented the Charlotte Fire Department with a 911 call simulator, to use as a teaching aid in local schools. During an on-stage demonstration, four childen "dialed" 911 on the device and responded to recorded questions from the call-taker.

McEwen spoke briefly to say that the FBI's NCIC-2000 would be completed by July, 1998. He said NCIC has experienced enormous growth since 1976, when it was first implemented. In that first year, the system handled 228,000 transactions per day. Ten years later, traffic was 518,000 transactions per day and by 1995 it was 1.6 million. In 1996 transactions totaled 1.7 million per day, and so far in 1998 the average is 1.8 million. McEwen said as public safety agencies begin to transmit fingerprints, video and other high bandwidth information, spectrum will become even more important.

At the conclusion of the speeches, Ward announced that awards would be given next. However, at least three-quarters of the audience left the giant ballroom, leaving less than 150 persons to witness the introduction of the awardees of APCO's Telecommunicator of the Year and Outstanding Achievement awards. There were 13 nominations for the awards this year, a record.

Kiki Hamm of the Garland (Tex.) police/fire/EMS comm center was awarded the Outstanding Achievement award. The 20 year-old has been a dispatcher for less than a year, but yet has chalked up an enviable record while handling a series of critical incidents. After her training was completed, she quickly encountered a multi-jurisdictional pursuit, a stabbing incident and a domestic disturbance that she handled like a pro. She was cited as a person who often stayed late to work on special projects. She encourages her co-workers to be positive when negative situations arise. She was described as an invaluable team player that never has to be asked to help during major incidents. She's received a "spotlight" award from the department, a city "Employee of the Month" award, and awarded the police department's Meritorious Conduct, the highest civilian award. Her supervisor described her as someone as always having a "can-do attitude."

Then, on February 15, 1997, Hamm answered a telephone call from a bank teller reporting that a robbery was in progress. As Hamm kept the teller on the line to obtain details, officer Michael Moore was dispatched along with other officers to the bank. As Hamm continued to talk to the teller, Moore arrived and engaged the suspect. The teller continued to give details, and Hamm calmly--if not without underlying emotion--continued to relay the information to the radio dispatcher, including that the officer and suspect had crashed through a window, and that Moore was crtically injured. The caller then said Moore was was been given CPR. Moore died later at a hospital from his injuries.

Ann Marie Kelsey (left) of the Colorado Springs (Colo.) police department was awarded the Telecommunicator of the Year award. Kelsey, a mother of five, was described as someone who would take on any assignment, and has received many previous awards from the Colorado APCO chapter. Her nominator said she frequently volunteers for overtime, is very modest upon receiving awards and consistantly crediting her co-workers for her excellence. She always has a upbeat attitude, sets and example for her co-workers and consequently motivates them. She provided significant assistance in combining police and fire dispatching in 1993. According to Joe McNeil, Kelsey is a "stand up, stand out telecommunicator."

Sgt. Jerry Jones of the Los Angeles police department accepted an APCO Presidential Award on behalf of the dispatchers who handled radio and telephone traffic during the North Hollywood bank shootout.

Business Meeting

At the association's formal business meeting, executive director Ronnie Rand told about 175 attendees that the group has a $400,000 cash surplus, and that revenues outpaced expenditures during the past year by $82,000. He said Over one-half of APCO's income is received from association operations, 19 percent from frequency operations, and 28 percent from the APCO Institute, which handles training. Rand then listed APCO's goals for the coming year--but then announced that he had submitted his resignation effective at the close of the conference. Incoming president Joseph McNeil said that his first priority would be to fill the vacant spot.

Rand said APCO hopes to find a new building, as all the office space in the current 10,000 square-foot building had been assigned. He said the association will develop a new five-year plan, support the NPSTC, begin training for the executive council and committee chairs, improve liaison with other public safety associations, increase membership by 10 percent and try to improve member retention.

During Ward's remarks, she said that APCO had been very successful in bending the ear of federal legislators and regulators during the past year. She said that "never" has the chairman of the FCC called the president of APCO into his office to say, "Here's the deal," and to ask for help in drafting meaningful regulations. Ward also introduced the president of the APCO-Mexico chapter, which had just recently been formed.

The candidates for second vice-president were then introduced--Thera Bradshaw (Wash.) and Lyle Gallagher (Minn.). Both were introduced by a pair of supporters. Bradshaw told the audience it was her 48th birthday and that she would appreciate being elected as a present. Gallagher said banked on his long experience and membership on various committees.

The next conference event began at 8 p.m., when the Carolina Beach Boogie kicked off at the convention center. A rock band played at one end of ballroom foyer, adjacent to a cash bar and tables of pretzel and salsa dip. Many people talked among themselves while others danced.