OPCD Welcomes Recruitment Class 23-04
New Orleans, LA (August 7, 2023) The Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD) is proud to welcome its newest recruitment class of future first responders (Class 23-04). These recruits will complete the agency’s 16-week academy full of academically rigorous coursework, skills assessments, certification exams, and final on-the-job evaluation by a certified training specialist. Upon graduation these individuals will join the rank of OPCD heroes that save lives every day, answering over 1.2 million calls, annually.
“This is the largest recruitment class we have had in 2023 so far,” says Director of Training and Compliance, Teresa Thompson. “With an original recruitment class of 12, we are proud to see 11 of them successfully complete the first 6 weeks of classroom training and move on to the next 10 weeks of on-the-floor training.”
“This has been an especially excited group of recruits,” says Training and Compliance Supervisor, Melinda Guerra. “With the completion of the first 6 weeks of classroom training, this is where it all comes together.”
It is now time for each recruit to sit under the headset with an Emergency Communication Specialist and start responding to emergencies. We look forward to the next 10 weeks of on-the-floor training and commend each recruit for wanting to join our team of heroes that respond to emergencies by getting the right people to the right place at the right time.
About Orleans Parish Communications District (www.OPCDLA.gov)
Formed in 1982, the Orleans Parish Communication District is the public safety answering point (PSAP) for all emergency communications via 9-1-1 within Orleans Parish. The agency employs over 180 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).