Manatee County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) this week received international recognition, as the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, the world's largest organization of public safety communications professionals, announced last week Manatee County ECC is the recipient of its 2018 Public Safety Communications Technology Leadership: Small Agency Award. The award recognizes communications centers that use technological advancements to benefit their center and the community they serve. In July, the ECC became the second agency in Florida to adopt new technology that will save emergency responders significant time when home alarms sound with the new Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) technology shaving up to three minutes from call processing time. In November the ECC and local fire districts launched Pulsepoint, a free mobile app that alerts citizens trained in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when someone in a nearby public place suffers sudden cardiac arrest. Also in November, Manatee County ECC became one of two in Florida and 13 in the world to earn a triple accreditation from an international nonprofit that sets standards for dispatch centers. The 911 center received the highest level of recognition for its police dispatch from the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch, or IAED, earning the title of a “Triple-ACE,” or Accredited Center for Excellence, agency. Manatee County Emergency Communications Center process over 222,000 9-1-1 calls each year.

Manatee County Emergency Communications Center