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APCO LAUNCHES STUDY TO ASSESS HUMAN RESOURCES IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
April 20, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced their intent to study the current status of training standards and certification requirements, retirement options and other key human resource issues related to public safety communications professionals. The study will be conducted by APCO International's newly appointed Professional Communications Human Resource Taskforce (PRO-CHRT), symbolically approved during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
Specifically, PRO-CHRT will conduct a study to identify the professional certification levels and minimum training requirements for public safety communications professionals in the U.S. In addition, the study will examine retirement benefits and the Fair Labor Standards Act as they pertain to public safety communications professionals' compensation and scheduling.
Several APCO International chapters are currently addressing these issues, encouraging a national review by APCO International. The Florida and Montana Chapters have been actively pursuing retirement benefits for public safety communications professionals commensurate with sworn officers in their states. In addition, the Florida and Virginia Chapters have been working on training and certification requirements and designations for public safety communications professionals in their states.
The PRO-CHRT study will lead to a toolbox intended to help APCO International members empower themselves to address theses issues in their states and will include a synopsis of state labor laws, retirement benefits and training and certification requirements. In addition, the deliverables will include sample legislation and effective strategies to advocate for these issues.
"Last week we celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which honors the usually overlooked and underappreciated professionals in the public safety communications community," APCO International President Chris Fischer said. "This effort will help us honor them everyday by ensuring the needs of these dedicated professionals are addressed locally and nationally."
About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.
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