Press Release - ACPO Certification

(LAKE WORTH, TX) – On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced that the Lake Worth Police Department’s Communications Center  would be awarded the Project 33® (P33), Agency Training Program Certification.

With its selection, the Lake Worth Police Department becomes the fourth communications center in the State of Texas, and the 92^nd in the United States to earn the prestigious APCO International Agency Training Program Certification designation.

The Agency Training Program certification is a formal mechanism for public safety agencies to certify that their training programs meet the APCO American National Standards (ANS). The standard specifies the minimum training requirements for operational personnel assigned to any public safety communications center.

The Lake Worth Police Department Communications Center submitted its curriculum, training materials and supporting documentation to APCO, who reviewed the documents for compliance with the rules and procedures that guide the certification process.

The voluntary certification process took more than a year to complete and will be valid for a period of three years. After three years, the department will be required to show continued compliance with APCO International’s P33 Program standards to receive recertification.

Receiving and maintaining the agency training program is a major accomplishment for the Lake Worth Police Department, its staff, and the Lake Worth Community.

“I am overwhelmed with emotion and pride for the Lake Worth Police Department’s communication center and its selection as a recipient of the APCO P33 Training Program Certification.”, said Sherry Decker, Executive Director of the Tarrant County 9-1-1 District. “This certification highlights the Lake Worth Police Department’s continued expectation for excellent service and training requirements for both new and veteran Public Safety Telecommunicators.”

“Once again, the men and women of the Lake Worth Police Department have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring that every citizen and visitor in Lake Worth receives the highest level of service possible.”, said Lake Worth Police Chief J.T. Manoushagian. “As a former telecommunicator myself, I fully understand the significance of this certification and I am elated for our Communication Center team.”

Formal recognition and acceptance of the Agency Training Program Certification will take place at APCO’s 89^th Annual Conference and Expo in Nashville, TN in August of 2023.

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 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.

The Lake Worth Police Department’s Public Relations and Outreach (PRO) Team will be handling all public relations inquiries associated with this case and will provide updates as often as possible. Below is the contact information for the PRO Team:

Public Relations and Outreach (PRO) Team
proteam@lakeworthtx.org
(817) 823-1814

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