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The mystery of the Opening General Session was, who used the teleprompters installed at the podium? John Walsh didn't seem to look at them, and his talk didn't sound prepared (although he's probably told his story thousands of times). That left APCO president Jack Keating and conference chair Diana Borash.

The twin sessions seemed to confuse many APCO members, as did the timing of events at the luncheon. "Can we start eating?" was a common question as the Twin Cities Gospel Choir sang as attendees sat down at the tables. Usually, eating begins after the invocation.

Gov. Jesse Ventura did not appear, but those Minnesotans who did referred to him several times. Best line: State Patrol Col. Ann Beers said, "I don't wrestle unless I really have to."

Speaking of Col. Beers, during her Opening Luncheon keynote speech, the rear half of the giant ballroom wasn't paying much attention to her, and the din of their talking nearly drowned out Beers' remarks altogether.

Good news! Minneapolis mayor Sharon Sayles Belton told the attendees that there is no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota. She urged APCO members to "Shop 'til you drop!"

Long Morning Kicks Off Conference

John Walsh Recalls The Rise of "America's Most Wanted"
APCO Committee Pursues Staffing Study
Association Broadcasts Meetings Live On Web

by Gary Allen, Editor

Hundreds of APCO members crowded into a giant meeting room at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the twin opening sessions of the association's 1999 annual conference to hear Fox TV's John Walsh speak, and to honor four persons being honored for their achievements.

A light rain pelted the downtown sidewalks, forcing some attendees to scramble for umbrellas, while others simply headed for the Skywalks that connect the Convention Center to hotels and office buildings.

At least 1,000 persons assembled at 10 a.m. to find flashing red and blue lights on-stage. A five-minute slide show accompanied by music kicked off the meeting. Titled "A Century of Communications," the show consisted of quick takes of photographs showing vintage comm centers and radio gear. One photo particularly tickled the audience--a police officer with a large portable radio strapped to his back. The name "Motorola" was clear visible on the unit. Another photo showed a rack mount of eight radio control heads installed inside a police car.

For the first time, the opening session audio and video were broadcast live on APCO's Web site. The "APCO Cam" was scheduled to transmit John Walsh's speech on Monday, the Exhibit Hall opening on Tuesday, and from the association's pavilion during the trade show.

APCO president Jack Keating welcomed the attendees, introduced the association board members and conference chair Diana Borash. Keating then turned to APCO's 1999 awards, and an announcer's voice introduced each of the four recipients, and explained why they were selected.

Tracy Vail is a 10-year veteran of the Illinois State Police, started as a calltaker and is now a lead calltaker and acting supervisor. According to her nomination for Telecommunicator of the Year, "Tracy can be relied on to follow through, to take the initiative and then to go one step further and provide assistance in all possible ways." She helped draft legislation for increased traffic fines in constructions zones, after she handled a serious traffic accident involving a highway worker. Vail is also a certified trainer, and recently received a Bachelor of Arts degree with studies in law enforcement, sociology and psychology. [Vail is pictured with her daughter Kellen.]

Sue Fallon is an 18-year veteran of the Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center, and coincidentally the program chair for this year's APCO conference. She earned the Line Supervisor of the Year award, and was nominated for being "our most active and trusted team player." According to her nomination, Fallon "is the common denominator of almost everything we do right." Fallon also manages the center's hiring process and training program, and is liaison with other city departments during special events. "She lives and breathes her profession and exudes a clear sense of leadership," the nomination said.

Incredibly, Barry Mogil has spent 51 years in public safety, and started his career (apparently at a young age) as an ambulance driver for a funeral home. Mogil is director of emergency communications for Pinellas County (Fla.) and was honored as APCO's Comm Center Director of the Year. He is a "vocal supporter of a renovated communications center with state-of-the art equipment," his nomination said, and "a director that employees dream of." Mogil hasn't invented any new technology or written a book that has changed the world, the nomination said. "What he will someday leave is a legacy of people he has mentored and coached who will do all those things."

The winner of the Technician of the Year award carries the traditional name for radio operators--Frank Sparks. He is a communications technician for the Delaware State Police and is a 12-year veteran. "Frank is never too busy to listen and always attempts to fit the additional requests (he receives) into his scheduled visit," his nomination said. Sparks always looks for the best value when considering state purchases, and his nomination said he has saved the state thousands on contracts. "Frank always approaches his job with a willingness to help people," the nomination concluded.

The Association will re-honor the recipients at Thursday's closing dinner, along with four recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Awards:

• Telecommunicator--Ardis Baker (Billings City/County, MT)
• Communications Center Director--Allen C. Holder (Lincoln County, West Virginia)
• Line Supervisor--Tracy Hill (Travis County Sheriff)
• Technician--David Saffel (West Virginia State Police)

Public Pressure Keeps AMW on TV

Of course, the reason that most APCO members showed up was to see John Walsh's appearance. The host of Fox TV's "New America's Most Wanted" is an icon for victim's rights, justice and law enforcement in general. After an introduction by Keating, he came on-stage, looking every bit the ordinary person that he was in 1981, when his six year-old son was kidnapped, molested and murdered in Florida by a serial killer.

Walsh told the story of how his life changed dramatically, how he channeled his anger and frustration into supporting federal legislation, and his move to television to help change the lives of others. Along the way he helped produce the movie "Adam," the story of his son's murder---the most-watched TV movie ever, and one that resulted in locating 65 missing children.

Walsh spoke naturally and seemingly off-handedly. But he never wandered or hesitated for a thought. The audience gave him a standing ovation on his introduction and when he finished, and they applauded loudly at least five times during his speech.

Walsh's account of his son's murder included details not usually recounted: His wife was shopping for a lamp, while his son was watching two groups of young men play video games just two aisles away. A dispute between the two groups attracted the attention of a security guard, who ejected the youths from the store, through opposite exits. The security guard believed that Adam Walsh was with one of the groups, and tossed him out of the store, too. Meanwhile, the man police suspect in the crime was trolling for victims, spotted Adam by himself and abducted him.

In a particular interesting account, Walsh told how he was pushing for legislation that would involve the FBI in child abductions, and was running into Justice Department opposition. The agency felt that a national agency should only be involved in "higher-level" crimes, and that Walsh was "public enemy number one," according to Walsh. During one Justice Department press conference to outline their opposition, Walsh said he crashed the meeting and confronted the officials. He was thrown out of the building for his efforts. He said it was ironic, then, that he was named the FBI's Man of the Year in 1998 for all the work he's done in helping capture criminals, including several from the FBI's 10 Most Wanted.

Walsh resisted efforts by the fledling Fox network to recruit him for a reality show focusing on criminals. He waited six months to say "Yes" in 1988, and only after learning of a particularly heinous crime and the suspect who was arrested, yet who fled on just $5,000 bail for a triple murder.

Walsh was not reluctant to criticize television executives who decided to cancel America's Most Wanted when ratings dropped. He described the original decision as being made by someone "driving around Hollywood in his BMW, talking on a cellular phone." He also criticized Rupert Murdoch for approving the decision, and for holding out, despite an outpouring of support from the FBI (who generally stays neutral in commercial endeavors), the public, 37 state governors ("I don't think 37 governors can agree on how many stars are on the flag.") and 55 members of Congress. After 200,000 letters to Fox, and 150,000 phone calls to local affiliates, the five-week hiatus ended and Walsh returned to the air. He said the executive who suggested the cancellation was fired, "and is still looking for a job."

He said the incident taught him that TV can make money--"America's Most Wanted always made money for Rupert Murdoch. Maybe not enough, but we've always made money every year."--but it can also allows caring and concerned persons to call the hotline to help capture a wanted criminal.

Walsh's current project is shepherding a constitutional amendment through Congress that would add significant rights to victims of crimes. He said there has never before been such an amendment, even though there have been four amendments for suspects.

Walsh wrapped up his talk with some specific words about public safety dispatching. "You, by answering that phone, are the lifeline of people throughout this country. They appreciate you. Believe me, they appreciate you. And I do," Walsh said. "You are living proof that one person can make a difference."

He urged dispatchers to have the telephone numbers for AMW and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on-hand, either to call directly or to give to citizens who call. He said the Center now has an on-site presence by the FBI and U.S. Marshals, a direct connection to NCIC, and the ability to dispatch experts to the scene of a missing child anywhere in the U.S. in just hours. The phone numbers are:

Not So Big Luncheon

There were almost 1,800 seats available for the noon luncheon, but many tables were only partially filled. The dais included deputy chiefs from the Minneapolis police and fire departments, the Minneapolis mayor and the Hennepin County sheriff.

The Twin Cities Gospel Choir sang two songs, followed by the St. Paul Police and Fire color guard, accompanied by a pipe and drum corps. After the National Anthem, conference chair Borash introduced Minneapolis mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, who said crime had dropped 24 percent in the city. "We attribute some of our success in reducing crime to our wonderful employees" in the Emergency Communications Center, Belton said. She said the center was in the midst of an upgrade, and conspicuously mentioned Plant Equipment Inc. and their VESTA telephone product. Belton also took time to spotlight Sue Fallon for her Line Supervisor of the Year Award.

Borash introduced Mary Boyd, of Lucent Technologies, who thanked those who participated in the development of the company's Palladium CAD product. The software recently won an award, and Boyd credited agencies and dispatchers as partly responsible.

The keynote speech was given by 24-year veteran Col. Anne Beers of the Minnesota State Patrol. She spoke about technology and how it's not a goal in itself, but rather a method of achieving other goals. She said information is power, and that real-time information is the core of technology in the next millennium. "The vision is easy," Beers said, "It's the implementation that's the challenge."

Staffing Study

Have you ever had to determine or justify the proper staffing for your comm center? Undoubtedly you found there is no reliable, accurate source of information, let alone a formula to follow. That predicament is now about to change.

Joe Noce, a member of APCO's 911 Committee, announced that within the next 30 days the Association would release an RFP for preparation of a staffing methodology that comm center managers can use to estimate staffing requirements. Noce said his master's thesis sparked interest in the staffing question, and that his research revealed that the last work on the subject is dated 1975, and doesn't take into account current workloads, technology or procedures.

Noce talked to a long-time friend, Don Vaughn, who works as director of operations and technology for Com-Net Professional Mobile Radio Inc. Vaughn has worked in public safety communications previously, and shared Noce's interest in staffing statistics. He proposed to have his company fund the study, which Noce said could total $15,000 to $20,000. Noce said APCO has contacted the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to discuss a joint study, but that the association will proceed whether NENA participates or not. However, Vaughn said he wants both groups to cooperate on the study, and won't fund an APCO-only study.

The study is expected to be ready for distribution by the end of 2000, and will be available to any interested person or agency.

Tomorrow:

• First business session at 7:30 a.m.! Association annual report, candidates for 2nd vice-president will address the members.
• Opening of exhibit hall at 10 a.m.
• Second business session at 4:15 p.m. Members will vote on pending resolutions, including one pertaining to the APCO Bulletin.
• MANAPCO Night at 6 p.m.

copyright 1999, Allen Media