ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today delivered remarks at the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International Conference, also known as APCO, in Baltimore. The governor highlighted the crucial role of public safety communications officials in Maryland's response to disasters like the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, and in the state’s all-of-the-above approach to achieve historic reductions in violent crime.
“Partnership produces progress, and we need partnership now, more than ever,”
said Gov. Moore. “Maryland has achieved enormous drops in crime. In order to hold those reductions, we need everyone inside and outside of this room working together. You are the sentinels, always watching our six. And we will make sure we watch yours.”
The Moore-Miller Administration has taken an all-of-the-above approach to reducing violent crime in Maryland by making historic investments in support for law enforcement. Maryland has seen significant drops in crime, and according to preliminary data, homicides and non-fatal shootings are the lowest they have been, statewide, in a decade. Baltimore City is now showing the fewest homicides ever recorded at this point in a single year—ending a near decades long trend of more than 300 homicides in Baltimore per year before the governor took office.
The Moore-Miller Administration invested approximately $133 million in the 9-1-1 system across 974 locally-driven projects to ensure all Maryland counties were able to obtain
Next Generation 9-1-1 technology, also known as NG911. Maryland is also leading the nation in the development and deployment of i3-standard NG911 session transfer capabilities—which provide emergency communications centers in Maryland with more comprehensive and real-time information to better manage emergencies.
The
Maryland 9-1-1 Board, which coordinates with communities and stakeholders to enhance county 9-1-1 systems, is taking a proactive approach to providing training resources to Maryland’s public safety communications workforce. In addition to comprehensive training programs for 9-1-1 training officers, the board has invested in specialized crisis protocols like the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch Protocol 41, the world’s first suicide risk and ideation protocol to help 9-1-1 specialists manage mental distress calls. These investments—in addition to mental health training and resources—aim to support the work of Maryland’s 1,500 licensed 9-1-1 specialists, who handled more than 3.8 million 9-1-1 sessions in 2024 alone.
Founded in 1935,
APCO is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals. APCO’s more than 40,000 members include those who manage, operate, build, and support public safety communications systems for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety agencies. The association supports its members by providing industry expertise, professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and advocacy.
Under the leadership of Chair Scott Haas and Executive Director Dr. Christy Collins, the Maryland 9-1-1 Board collaborated with local emergency communication centers across Maryland on a recruitment table at the APCO Conference to showcase statewide career opportunities in emergency communications for the next generation of public servants.