FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD)
Asks Citizens and Congress to Support Legislation Recognizing 9-1-1 Professionals
NEW ORLEANS, LA (April 15, 2019) – The OPCD is asking the citizens of Orleans Parish and surrounding parishes to speak to their U.S. Senators and Representatives about supporting the 9-1-1 SAVES Act, a bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as an identical bill in the U.S. Senate, that would appropriately classify 9-1-1 professionals as Protective Service Occupations (as opposed to administrative/clerical occupations).
“OPCD takes great pride in our dedicated 9-1-1 professionals who are here, day in and day out, to respond to the emergency calls of Orleans Parish,” stated Tyrell Morris, Executive Director of OPCD. “This bipartisan bill would be a well-deserved recognition of how our 9-1-1 professionals help to protect and save lives every day, and we ask that citizens reach out to their Senators and Representatives to ensure this bill becomes law.”
Visit the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Take Action page for an easy and hassle free option to send your Senator or Representative an email. To make the process even easier, APCO has created a prewritten message for you that will only take a few moments to complete.
OPCD also asks that citizens share the above link over social media and encourage friends, family and colleagues to take action as well.
About APCO International®
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 Orleans Parish Communications District
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 140 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).
For Media Inquires
Contact: Marcus Creel
Public Engagement Manager
601-319-2024
[email protected]
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