Knox County, Tennessee 911

Nationally Recognized

Motorola CEO presents award to Alan Bull prior to the Presidential Debate 

Knox County 911’s Alan Bull was recently awarded the prestigious Danny Smith Award by his Public Safety peers in the MTUG organization.  MTUG is a worldwide group of over 800 users of Motorola Mission Critical Trunked Radio.   The award, traditionally announced at the national Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) meeting each year, was created in memory of Danny Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Danny was a Charter member of MTUG; he served two separate terms as president.  His untimely death in 1997 left a void that was difficult to fill.  To remember him, Motorola and MTUG instituted this award to exemplify the Leadership, Dedication and Vision of Danny and to foster these qualities in other MTUG members. 

The presentation was made in conjunction with activities surrounding the Presidential Debate recently held in Nashville.  Greg Brown, Motorola CEO, met Bull and Knox 911 Director, Chief Bob Coker, at the Metro Nashville 911 Center to make the award presentation.  Brown was in town for meetings with Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and to attend the debate.  Metro 911, which acted as the command post for both federal, state, local public safety officials during the debate, was the perfect location to not only to recognize the accomplishments of Alan and Knox County but those of all of the states 911 professionals.  Prior to the presentation Mike Evans, Motorola’s System Manager for Metro gave the Motorola CEO a tour of the 911 center where he observed numerous Motorola Mission Critical radios, dispatch positions, & infrastructure operating flawlessly in the hands of his customers as they insured all the behind scenes activities that allowed the debate to be conducted in a safe and efficient manner.  

Later, in recognizing Bull, a past-President of MTUG, Brown noted that it is clear that Alan’s industry peers see him as exemplifying the same Leadership, Dedication, and Vision as exhibited by the award’s namesake.  Brown stated that, “it is through role models like Alan that the next generation of public safety communications professionals can look to for an example to carry on high standards of excellence and to foster these qualities in other MTUG members.

The history of Motorola and Knox County has been lengthy.  In conjunction with DeKalb County, Georgia and the City of Miami, Florida, Knox County in the early 1980’s was one of the original adopters of Motorola Trunked Radio to serve the needs of their first responders.  Knox County has always been and will continue to be one of Motorola’s most valued customers.  Brown in addressing the group remarked on the value of Motorola’s customers. “At Motorola we understand that valued customers are ultimately individuals making the choice daily to excel.  As such, at Motorola we recognize that our value is only realized when demonstrated in our commitment to serve the needs of the individuals in departments such as Knox County each and every day.