Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International was founded in 1935. It is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. APCO’s mission is to be a leader in providing public safety communications expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach to benefit its members and the public.
Purpose
APCO serves the government functions that provide public safety communications services in the areas of law enforcement, forestry, conservation, fire, highway maintenance, emergency rescue and medical services, emergency management, and other activities supported or endorsed by federal, state, local and tribal governments. The primary purposes of the association are to: foster the development and progress of public safety communications and supporting information technologies promote the rapid and accurate collection, exchange and dissemination of information relating to emergencies and other vital public safety communications; represent its members, public safety communications and supporting information technological interests in general before regulatory and policy-making bodies as may be appropriate; and strive to protect citizens and their property and provide for their welfare by these and other appropriate means.
Memberships
APCO offers different levels of membership in three categories: Individual membership for those personnel who staff, manage, design, construct, install, command or operate a public safety communications center and supporting information systems. Group membership for agencies that want to offer benefits to all of their public safety communications center employees Commercial membership for those who receive compensation in any form of products and services rendered in business and industry.
Events
APCO International hosts several events and conferences each year.
The Annual Conference and Expo, held every year beginning in 1935, brings together public safety telecommunicators, vendors, instructors and industry leaders. More than 5,000 people attended APCO 2014 in New Orleans, LA.
The Emerging Technology Forum, offered twice a year, is a two-day event for public safety communications professionals who want an overview of technologies that are on the horizon.
The Public Safety Broadband Summit, held annually, provides a forum for technology experts, policy leaders, industry partners, wireless service providers, and public safety professionals to discuss timely issues affecting the deployment of the FirstNet nationwide public safety broadband network.
The Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner annually recognizes the leaders in public safety communications who have continued to advocate for the industry.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the second full week in April, honors the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community.
Standards
APCO International is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited Standards Developer (ASD). APCO’s 16 active standards include operational and training standards for telecommunicators, supervisors, instructors, training officers, communications center managers and directors, as well as technical standards in areas such as alarm systems and common incident types for data exchange.
Training and certification
APCO Institute offers onsite training, online education, and continuing education from front-line basic training to supervisory courses, as well as operational support products, such as EMD guide cards and the APCO IntelliComm® Guidecard & Software Systems supported by IBM Watson Analytics.
The APCO Agency Training Program Certification is a formal mechanism for public safety agencies to certify their training programs as meeting APCO ANS 3.103.1-2010: Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators, which specifies the minimum training requirements of calltakers and dispatchers of law enforcement, fire services, and emergency medical services assigned to the public safety telecommunicator function.
The APCO Registered Public-Safety Leader Program is a 12-month online program, available to APCO members, leading to the professional designation of Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL). Students are taught to communicate with authority, build and manage high-performance teams, break down barriers to solid interpersonal negotiations, enhance team performance and lead with confidence and integrity.