911 Director Retires After Successful Overhaul of Emergency Radio System

After 21 years of service in Centre County, Emergency Communications Director Daniel Tancibok is retiring.

Tancibok served as head of the 911 Telecommunications Center for 18 of his 36-year career. His last day with the county is Wednesday.

Tancibok, who declined to be interviewed, is perhaps best known for leading an $18 million massive overhaul of the county’s 911 system, which officials completed earlier this year when the county transitioned from an obsolete analog emergency radio system to a digital system with an increase in coverage and capabilities.

The radio system is critical as it is the system the 911 Communications Center uses to dispatch police, fire, EMS and public works crews to emergencies in the county. It is also the system emergency responders use to communicate with each other during an emergency.

Centre County Commissioners honored Tancibok’s service to the county during a public meeting Tuesday.

Centre County Commissioner Michael Pipe told StateCollege.com Tancibok’s retirement is “bittersweet” as the county will be losing a long-time emergency services leader, but at the same time the retirement is well-deserved after a lengthy career.

“Dan has been an invaluable part of not just the 911 center, but county government as well,” says Pipe. “The individual who is the director of 911 is really in the public eye more often than other departments. Whether that’s being part of the new 911 system, the project, and helping that along, or an incident Dan needs to give comment about, … Dan has performed terrifically.”

Pipe also noted Tancibok has been a leader in emergency communications, not only in Centre County, but also at the state and national level. Specifically, Tancibok has held roles in both the National Emergency Number Association and the Association of Public Safety Communications.

Tim Boyde, county administrator, has worked with Tancibok on several projects over the years. During that time Boyde says Tancibok proved to be “at the forefront of problem solving” when faced with various issues related to things like towers, connectivity and paging.

“Dan is one of those individuals who can identify a problem and a solution,” Boyde says. “We’re sorely going to miss Dan, but we wish him well.”

Dale Neff, deputy director of the department, will serve as interim director. Tancibok will also serve as a consultant to the county on a temporary basis. The Emergency Communications Department has roughly 30 full and part-time employees.

Earlier this month, commissioners launched a national search for Tancibok’s replacement, which included advertising with traditional employment publications and websites as well as state and national emergency communications organizations. The county has already received dozens of applications.

“Were casting a very wide net and we’ll definitely do our due diligence,” says Pipe.

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