OC E-911 Center and Captain recognized with Awards

The E-911 Communications Center of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the Captain of the Division were recently recognized with awards during the statewide fall APCO Conference in Myrtle Beach. The Conference is held yearly and the awards were handed out on Oct. 20. According to their website, “APCO, which stands for Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide and the welfare of the general public as a whole, by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.” According to Lisa Willis, Chief Dispatcher with the Oconee E-911 Communications Center, every state has a statewide APCO organization. The E-911 Communications Center was awarded, in conjunction with the Anderson County 911 Center, with the 2017 South Carolina APCO Team 911 Award. The award was given to recognize the response of both dispatch centers in regards to their work during the school shooting that occurred at Townville Elementary School in September of 2016. Also recognized with an award was Captain Travis Tilson of the Sheriff’s Office E-911 Communications Center. Captain Tilson was awarded with the South Carolina APCO 911 Director of the Year. Captain Tilson has been the director of the E-911 Communications Center for the past ten years.