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E911 Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Clinton and Representative Shimkus and FCC Public Safety Bureau Chief Poarch Honor Public Safety Telecommunicators

Monday, April 14, 2008
Statements released as part of National Public Safety Telecommunications week

Media Contact: Courtney McCarron, (202) 833-9600, [email protected]

(Washington, DC) E911 Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief Derek Poarch today released statements honoring the work of public safety communications professionals. The statements came the day after the start of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, a week set aside by Congress and celebrated by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to pay tribute to the work of public safety communications professionals.

“Let us first thank our public safety telecommunications professionals for all that they do on behalf of the citizens in their hometowns, around each state, and indeed, across the entire country,” a statement from Senator Clinton and Representative Shimkus said. 

“In an era in which homeland security, natural disasters and other daily emergencies are a part of our everyday reality, public safety telecommunications professionals serve as a critical lifeline to the public, and particularly to the most vulnerable members of our society. Whether it be responding to a hurricane or tornado, a terrorist threat or a local 911 emergency, the work that they do saves lives on a daily basis.”

“It is an honor to express my support to the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) on the celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week,” Chief Poarch said. “I am very proud to say that I started my law enforcement career as a telecommunicator and I am very aware of the great work that is done every day by public safety telecommunications professionals. Too often these professionals do not receive the recognition and gratitude that they so richly deserve. The services they provide cannot be measured in dollars for a life is priceless and public safety saves countless lives. We at the FCC are rewarded everyday by the thought that we can assist public safety on its critical missions. Many thanks to all on the wonderful work provided by the professionals represented by APCO International and NENA.”

APCO International and NENA are starting this year’s festivities with a Press Conference and Communications Center Tour today at 1 pm at the Office of Unified Communications (OUC). The event will bring public attention to National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and the important work of public safety communications professionals.

About APCO International

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information about APCO International, see the Related Content section at the end of this page.

About NENA

NENA is The Voice of 911™. NENA promotes implementation and awareness of 911 as North America’s universal emergency number. NENA is the leading professional non-profit organization dedicated solely to 911 emergency communications issues. NENA serves its nearly 7,000 members in 48 chapters across the US, Canada and Mexico through policy advocacy, establishment of technical and operational standards, certification programs and a broad spectrum of educational offerings. For more information about NENA, see the Related Content section at the end of this page.