Chester County DES' Platoons were named 2018 Team of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (PA APCO). PA APCO presents annual awards to public safety communications personnel recognizing those who have demonstrated the highest level of performance.
Left to Right: Scott Krater, President PA APCO, Joe Badman, Joe Pennington,
Casey Clinton,Keith Simpkins, and Mark Bynum
On Thursday, November 16, 2017, a five alarm fire destroyed the Barclay Friends Senior Living Center in West Chester, PA. The fire occurred around 10:45pm on a bitter cold night. Upon arrival, first responders began assisting the 160 residents and staff in evacuating the immediate area. Unfortunately, 4 residents perished. The bravery of the first responders allowed all other residents and staff to be safely evacuated; triaged to a hospital or to nearby warming centers.
The enormous amount of fire, EMS and police agencies that were dispatched to the scene that night to fight the fire and to evacuate the residents and staff took all the skills and teamwork of these Telecommunicators over and above their normal high level of service they provide each and every day.