Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. It was first conceived by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office in 1981 and was observed only at that agency for three years. Members of the Virginia and North Carolina chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) became involved in the mid-1980s. By the early 1990s, the national APCO organization convinced Congress of the need for a formal proclamation. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced what became H.J. Res. 284 to create “National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.” According to the Congressional procedure, it was presented twice more in 1993 and 1994 and then became permanent, without the need for annual introduction.

The 911 CARES project has a wide range of NTW logo products that are great for gifts—or just for yourself! Moreover, the project gives back to the dispatching community, so they are worthy of support. APCO has a blog to share NTW celebrations and honors.

The official name of the week when initially introduced in Congress in 1991 was “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.” In the intervening years, it has become known by several other names, including “National Public-Safety Telecommunications Week” and “International Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week.” The Congressional resolution also stated there were more than “500,000 telecommunications specialists,” although other estimates put the number of dispatchers at just over 200,000. The Congressional figure may include support personnel and perhaps even those in the commercial sector of public safety communications.

Board Meetings are open to all paid members of the RCPAAA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Meetings are held online. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact membership@rcpaaa.org for details.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5187, creating “National Correctional Officers’ Week.” Each year, the first full week in May is recognized as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, commemorating the contributions of correctional officers and personnel who work in jails, prisons, and community corrections across the country.

Board Meetings are open to all paid members of the RCPAAA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Meetings are held online. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact membership@rcpaaa.org for details.

Board Meetings are open to all paid members of the RCPAAA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Meetings are held online. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact membership@rcpaaa.org for details.

Board Meetings are open to all paid members of the RCPAAA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Meetings are held online. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact membership@rcpaaa.org for details.

Board Meetings are open to all paid members of the RCPAAA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Meetings are held online. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact membership@rcpaaa.org for details.

Board Meetings are open to all paid members of the RCPAAA. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Meetings are held online. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact membership@rcpaaa.org for details.

The Richardson Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association (RCPAAA) will hold our fall Electronic Recycling and Paper Shredding event on Saturday, October 22nd  from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm in the parking lot east of the old Sears store at the Richardson Square Mall. The entrance to the event is from Belt Line Road.

We accept most electronic items – if it has or had a cord or was used with an electronic item, it will probably be allowed. The exceptions are the old tube-style TVs / monitors and batteries. No liquids or hazardous materials will be accepted.

Paper shredding is designed to help prevent identity theft. The recycling and shredding services for up to five (5) boxes or bags are free to local citizens but contributions are encouraged. A minimum donation of $5.00 / box is requested for an excess of five (5) boxes. A box is described as a standard banker’s box which is usually about 10x12x18. Only paper documents containing personal information should be brought for shredding. Other paper items such as newspapers, magazines, and books should be placed in blue recycling bags and set out for recycling pickup by the City.

This recycling event is free (5 boxes of shredding or less) and open to anyone who lives in the north Texas area. Please note that the RCPAAA incurs over $2500 in costs providing the shredding trucks for this event. The RCPAAA is a non-profit organization supporting the Richardson Police Department (RPD) and was founded in 1993. Donations will be solicited to help us cover the cost of this event as well as to help us support the RPD. Among the activities we sponsor at the Richardson PD are our annual RPD Appreciation Meal, gifts to newly hired police officers, gifts to retiring police employees, scholarships to children of RPD employees (both current and retired), and our Retired K-9 Vet Assistance program.