President's Update

FAYETTEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES APCO P33 TRAINING PROGRAM CERTIFICATION: June 15, 2010, Fayetteville, Ark. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that Fayetteville Police Department’s Training Program is being recognized as having achieved certified compliance in meeting or exceeding the APCO Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators (2006).
The certification presentations will be made at the Distinguished Achievers Breakfast at the APCO International 76th Annual Conference and Exposition in Houston, Texas on August 3.

The APCO Project 33 Agency Training Program Certification is a formal mechanism for public safety agencies to certify their training programs as meeting the Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators.  The standard specifies the minimum training requirements, in general, of personnel assigned to the public safety telecommunicator function, but recognizes the need to supplement these basic competencies with agency-specific information and existing equipment-use parameters.

Fayetteville Police Department’s training program has been in place over 10 years and was most recently updated this year.  It involves lecture and self study and requires over 200 hours of on-the-job training as well as monthly continuing education.

“For many years APCO International has established competent training standards, which effectively prepare trainees to better understand their role and responsibilities within both public safety and related public service occupations,” APCO International Executive Director George S.
Rice, Jr. said.  “We congratulate Fayetteville Police Department for recognizing the need for certification in their center and for the hard work employed to achieve the standard.”