PVPD Dispatchers Recognized as 2025 APCO/NENA Team of the Year

Huge congratulations to our Paradise Valley Police Department Emergency Telecommunications team—Communications Manager Heather Beckwith, Lead Dispatcher Kelci Crounse, and Dispatcher Debbie Fajardo—who were honored alongside our partners at Scottsdale Police Department as the 2025 Team of the Year by the Arizona APCO/NENA Executive Board! 🏆

This statewide award recognizes the outstanding leadership, innovation, and collaboration demonstrated during the complete reconstruction of the Paradise Valley PD Communications Center from October 2024 to March 2025. During this time, our dispatchers temporarily relocated and operated out of the Scottsdale PD Communications Center, working seamlessly with their Scottsdale counterparts to maintain uninterrupted, high-quality service to our officers and community.

The team’s efforts were also showcased this week at the Arizona APCO/NENA Training Conference, where they attended several educational breakout sessions focused on frontline telecommunicator support, leadership development, center management, and emerging technologies. Communications Manager Heather Beckwith spoke at one of the sessions, presenting alongside Scottsdale PD Assistant Communications Manager Kacey Kracke about their experience with the relocation project.

Their session spotlighted “hot seating”—a new capability enabled by Next Generation 911. This innovative technology allows dispatchers to answer 911 calls for their agency from a different communications center without rerouting or forwarding lines, providing faster and more flexible service. Paradise Valley PD and Scottsdale PD were the first agencies in Arizona to implement this cutting-edge solution.

Thank you to the professionals behind the headsets whose dedication and teamwork set a new standard for public safety communications in Arizona.