Virginia Chapter of APCO - International, Inc.

06/17/2026

Virginia APCO is now accepting applications for the Instructional Scholarship and Professional Development Scholarship. Whether you’re looking to complete an APCO Institute course, RPL, or CPE, this is a great opportunity to take the next step.

Visit our website for details and applications: https://www.virginia-apco.org/scholarships

06/10/2026

The Call for Papers deadline for the 2026 Virginia APCO/NENA/SIEC Conference is June 15! We're looking for engaging sessions, fresh ideas, practical takeaways, and the stories that move our profession forward.

Alright Virginia… we know you’ve got something to say.

The Call for Papers is officially OPEN for the 2026 VA APCO/NENA/SIEC Interoperability Conference this October and we’re looking for the voices, ideas, and real-world experiences that are shaping public safety communications right now.

Submit here: https://tinyurl.com/FallPapers26

06/09/2026

We are sharing an opportunity for those in the Chesterfield area to support members of the public safety community. Event details are included in the flyer below.

Virginia APCO extends its thoughts to the families and agencies affected during this difficult time.

CHESTERFIELD STRONG.

Join us this Thursday as we come together to support two local first responder families. 20% of all sales will be donated directly back to the families.

Lunch, dinner, or takeout — every visit makes a difference.

06/05/2026

Every day, public safety professionals carry a lot. Sometimes, the heaviest things aren't the ones we can see.

This fall, attendees at the 2026 VA APCO/NENA/SIEC Interoperability Conference will hear a message that just might change the way they think about what they're carrying. Stay tuned. 🎒

06/03/2026

Virginia's 911 centers rely on dedicated funding to support critical technology, infrastructure, and resiliency improvements.

Today, Virginia APCO released a statement regarding the current status of the 911 Resiliency Grant funding and the impact on PSAPs across the Commonwealth.

Read the full statement on our blog:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate: June 3, 2026Association calls for transparency, accountability, and sustainable support for Virginia’s public safety answering points (PSAPs).Virginia APCO has serious concerns regarding the current status of the 9-1-1 Resiliency Grant funding of $42 million intended to ...

06/01/2026

The Virginia Chapter of APCO extends our heartfelt condolences to the members of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office following the line-of-duty death of Deputy Logan Utt. We also stand with the Chesterfield County Police as they navigate the aftermath of yesterday's tragic incident.

We honor the life and service of Deputy Utt, hold the injured officers in our thoughts, remember the fallen police K-9, and offer our deepest condolences to all those affected. Virginia stands with you.

05/26/2026

Please join us in congratulating Wadiya Pearson, recipient of the 2025 Virginia APCO Stephen Souder Telecommunicator of the Year Award sponsored by IDNetworks.

Wadiya serves as an Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) with the City of Richmond’s Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, one of the busiest 911 centers in Virginia, handling more than 450,000 calls for service annually.

Trained in Priority Dispatch call-taking, Police and Fire dispatch, and Teletype operations, Wadiya also serves as a lead operator for fire operations and supports fire policy updates within the department. Since joining the agency in 2016, she has consistently demonstrated professionalism, initiative, and strong operational performance.

Widely recognized as a team player and informal leader on the operations floor, Wadiya regularly assists with fire radio training, supports colleagues beyond her assigned duties, and maintains a consistently positive and professional presence.

Her commitment to excellence is reflected in both her performance and initiative, including identifying and correcting a critical issue involving misrouted emergency notifications from a medical alarm company. She has also maintained exceptional quality assurance performance with zero critical and non-critical errors identified during reviews.

Wadiya’s dedication to public safety communications extends beyond daily operations through training support, radio role-play coverage, and an unwavering commitment to reliability and service. Her professionalism, leadership by example, and commitment to her team make her exceptionally deserving of recognition as Telecommunicator of the Year.

Congratulations, Wadiya, and thank you for your outstanding service to the profession and the community you serve.

05/26/2026

Please join us in congratulating Renee Settle, recipient of the 2025 Virginia APCO Individual Performance in a Critical Incident Award sponsored by AT&T FirstNet.

Renee serves as an Assistant Communications Supervisor with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division, supporting 24/7 emergency communications operations and serving as a working supervisor handling frontline telecommunicator responsibilities.

On July 18, 2025, Renee handled a critical and highly traumatic 911 call involving an active domestic incident witnessed by a 13-year-old caller. Throughout the nearly 14-minute call, Renee remained calm, compassionate, and professional while building rapport with the child, gathering critical information, and providing life-saving CPR instructions.

Her actions provided responding units with vital information that proved critical to the response and subsequent investigation, while simultaneously supporting a traumatized caller during an extremely emotional and difficult situation.

Renee’s composure, empathy, critical thinking, and dedication to public service exemplify the very best of the emergency communications profession.

Congratulations, Renee, and thank you for your exceptional service to your community.

05/26/2026

Please join us in congratulating the Hanover County Public Safety Emergency Communications team, recipients of the 2025 Virginia APCO Team of the Year Award sponsored by Carolina Recording Systems.

On December 13, 2025, the team demonstrated extraordinary professionalism, teamwork, and resilience during one of the most demanding critical incidents in the agency’s history.

As more than 30 simultaneous 911 calls flooded the center reporting an active shooting, dispatchers rapidly coordinated police, fire, and EMS resources while providing lifesaving instructions and critical scene information to callers. Simultaneously, the team continued managing multiple unrelated emergencies across the jurisdiction.

Despite overwhelming call volume and rapidly evolving conditions, the communications team remained calm, focused, and mission driven. Off-duty personnel responded to assist, supervisors coordinated tactical operations, and leadership provided direct operational support throughout the incident.

Their actions exemplified the highest standards of the emergency communications profession and demonstrated exceptional service above and beyond the call of duty.

Congratulations to: Caleb Pearce, RJ Gentry, Lucy Klisz, John Bartlett, Stephon Autry, Kendal Marable, Cassidy Holt, Lia Streeter, TJ Jennings, and Director Cheryl Buchanan.

Thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving your community when it mattered most.

05/26/2026

Please join us in congratulating Diedra Robinson, recipient of the 2025 Virginia APCO Communications Line Supervisor of the Year Award sponsored by VDEM.

As a Communications Supervisor with the Hampton Police Emergency Communications Center, Diedra provides frontline leadership supporting 24/7 police, fire, and EMS communications operations.

Since joining the division in 2020, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in training, mentorship, and workforce development, playing a key role in onboarding and supporting new communications personnel.

In addition to supervising daily operations, Diedra contributes to training development, quality assurance efforts, and mentorship for newly promoted supervisors, while consistently demonstrating professionalism and calm leadership during critical incidents.

Her excellence has been recognized throughout her career, earning honors including Trainee of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Dispatcher of the Year, and Supervisor of the Year.

Congratulations, Diedra, and thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to public safety communications.