FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OPCD Staff Members Earn
APCO Registered Public Safety Leader Designation
NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 8, 2020) – Orleans Parish Communications District is pleased to announce that Training & Compliance Manager, Teresa Thompson, and Training & Compliance Supervisor, La’ Cher Watson, have earned the designation of Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL) from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers (APCO International).
The RPL program is designed for individuals interested in developing a solid foundation of management and supervisory skills necessary for successful PSAP operations. Participants may be any public safety individuals interested in developing a solid foundation of management and supervisory skills necessary for successful PSAP operations. The APCO RPL teaches leadership techniques such as providing clear and concise direction, leading by example, enabling others, sharing power and seeking a better way forward.
“The entire team at OPCD is incredibly proud of the effort Teresa and La’ Cher put in to earn this designation,’ stated OPCD Executive Director, Tyrell Morris. “Make no mistake, this is a rigorous program that really pushes your leadership and critical thinking skills to the limit. Teresa and La’ Cher rose to the occasion, as I knew they could, and further established themselves as leaders in the public safety industry.”
The program consists of six online courses, lasting between 6-to-10 weeks in duration, plus a mandatory service project. To fulfill course requirements, the service project must benefit APCO and/or the public safety industry at the state, regional or national level.
“It’s hard to put into words how rewarding the RPL program has been for me” stated Teresa Thompson. “The courses really helped to solidify the foundation for my management and supervisory philosophy, and stressed the difference between being a leader or simply being a boss or supervisor. I fully intend to take the knowledge I’ve gained over these last months and apply it to my work at OPCD, helping to raise the already high bar of exceptionalism within the agency.”
“The RPL program truly forces you to evaluate the type of leader you want to be,” stated La’ Cher Watson. “We had to consider what kind of value we bring to the table, and whether or not our perspectives on certain public safety topics impact innovation and forward movement. Putting these lessons to the test in real time at OPCD has been an eye opening experience, and I am incredibly excited to see how the Training & Compliance division evolves now that Teresa and I have gained this new knowledge.”
About APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International 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. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole.
About the Orleans Parish Communication District (www.OPCDLA.gov)
Formed in 1982, the Orleans Parish Communication District is the PSAP for all emergency communications via 9-1-1, and non-emergency communications via 3-1-1, within Orleans Parish. The agency employs over 150 individuals and provides emergency medical dispatch, emergency fire dispatch, and emergency police dispatch for the millions of annual visitors and residents of the City of New Orleans. OPCD is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
The Mission of OPCD is to get the Right People to the Right Place at the Right Time, Better than Anybody Else in the World.
OPCD Contact:
Marcus W. Creel, MS
OPCD Public Engagement Manager
601.319.2024
[email protected]
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