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Key Takeaways from 2023 APCO — Wrap Up

Last week, MCP subject-matter experts blanketed the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) conference in Nashville. This final blog of a three-part series wraps up what they learned. Read more key takeaways in last week’s blogs Part 1and Part 2.

Key Takeaways from 2023 APCO – Part 2

MCP subject-matter experts blanketed the annual Association of Public Safety Officials conference in Nashville this week to gain insights into emergency response's short- and long-term future. A blog posted on Tuesday identified a few of the key takeaways from the first two days. This blog covers days three and four.

Key Takeaways from 2023 APCO – Part 1

MCP subject-matter experts are blanketing the annual Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference

The Biggest Takeaways from Day Two of the NENA Conference 2023

MCP was out in force again yesterday at this year’s National Emergency Number Association (NENA) conference. Here’s a snippet of what we learned:

The Biggest Takeaways from Day One of the NENA Conference 2023

MCP was out in force yesterday at this year’s National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Conference 2023. Here’s a snippet of what we learned:

Learn the Ins and Outs of Cloud Implementations for Public-Sector Agencies in Our Latest Podcasts

The “cloud” still seems to be a thing of mystery to many in the public sector. To help unravel the mystery, MCP created three podcasts, which can be found on our website, SoundCloud, and Spotify.

These Are 2022’s Most Important Public Safety Trends

MCP Insights asked the firm’s subject-matter experts to predict what will occur this year concerning communications technologies, operations, and governance in the public safety sector (law enforcement, fire/rescue, emergency medical, and 911) and the public sector (government and justice). Here’s what they said:

New Podcast Offers Numerous Ideas to Solving the 911 Community’s Staffing Problems

Dutch folklore recounts the story of a little boy who plugs a hole that formed in a dike, using only his finger, to keep his town from flooding — he stays in place through the night despite the cold and becomes a hero. If this story were applied to today’s 911 community, the boy would need to use multiple digits or would need a few of his pals to help out.

Newest Podcast Covers the 911 Community’s Biggest Issues — CAD System Inconsistency, the Staffing Crisis, and More

For more than a half century, the 911 system in the United States has performed admirably, saving countless lives in the process. But today it needs some work. A migration to Next Generation 911, which represents a quantum leap forward in terms of capabilities compared with the legacy 911 system, is what we hear about most often. But several other key aspects require equally rapt attention.

Recently I participated in a podcast with Laurie Flaherty, the recently retired coordinator of the National 911 Program, and John Chiaramonte, president of Mission Critical Partners' consulting business, in which a few of the most pressing needs were discussed. (Click here to view the podcast, or view it as video here.)

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Microsoft Patch Tuesday

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

Life at MCP: Meet Howard Miller

Everyone at MCP is passionate about the public safety and justice communities and their critical missions. They also are passionate about things in their personal lives. Howard Miller, the firm’s new senior recruiter, is no exception – he is passionate about helping the less fortunate, especially children.

One of his favorite endeavors was the creation of the “Shop with a Badge,” program when he was a senior public relations officer for the Brookhaven, Georgia, police department. The program, which still exists and also involves the city’s fire/rescue and emergency medical departments, provides $200 stipends to low-income children that they can spend at Target, which is a sponsor.

A Few Words of Praise for the National 911 Program’s Laurie Flaherty

On Friday, December 17, Laurie Flaherty, the longtime coordinator of the National 911 Program, will retire. That will be a sad day for the 911 community and for me personally. I first got to know Laurie when I was editor-in-chief of Urgent Communications. Our paths crossed often over the years at conferences, usually when I was covering an educational session where she was speaking. Inevitably, I would make a beeline to her as soon as the session ended, at which time she would patiently answer every question that I had, generously giving me all of the time that I needed.