March 29, 2010 - CADDO PARISH 911CENTER CELEBRATES NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK
2^nd Week Sponsored by APCO International

The Shreveport Fire Department is celebrating the second full week of April (Sunday, April 11 thru Saturday, April17) as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. This week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.

Recent events have highlighted the work of telecommunications professionals who operate the Caddo Parish 9-1-1 system. On Saturday, November 21, 2009 members of the Shreveport Fire Department Communications Division appeared before the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). At that time, the Shreveport Fire Department Communications Division received unanimous support from the commission for reaccreditation in the CALEA’s Public Safety Communications Center Accreditation program.

This remains a highly prestigious award in the public safety community and it is worthy to note that the Shreveport Fire Department Communications Division was the first fire agency ever accredited by CALEA. The Communications Division received initial accreditation in 2003 and this most recent reaccreditation award is valid for three years, at which time the division will undergo another on-site review to verify compliance with the 218 standards which make up the program.

Mayor Cedric Glover has recognized National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and will honor the Caddo Parish Emergency Communications Center’s staff by releasing an official Proclamation on Thursday, April 15^th at 2PM, at the Emergency Communications Center.
About Caddo Parish 9-1-1

The Caddo Parish Emergency Communications Center serves as Caddo Parish’s Gateway to Public Safety. The Communications Center is staffed by Call takers and dispatchers from the Shreveport Fire Department, Shreveport Police Department, and Caddo Sheriff’s Department. The Communications Center personnel answer all 9-1-1 calls which originate within Caddo Parish. The Shreveport Fire Department Communications serves as the primary call answering point and they also provide dispatch services to all of Caddo Parish’s independent Fire Districts.

About APCO International

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, Inc. is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO serves the professional needs of its 16,000 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.

For more information, visit www.apcotelecomweek.org.