Prince William County Public Safety Communications Department Earns Prestigious APCO Certification

The Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications recently received a certification from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, APCO International. This prestigious recognition, awarded under APCO’s Project 33 Initiative, highlights the department’s robust and continually evolving training programs—a commitment in place since its initial APCO certification in 2014. 

“This is really an important certification for us,” said Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications Director Michele Surdam. “This accreditation bolsters the fact that we put so much importance into our training programs and to making sure that the information is pertinent to an employee’s duties and responsibilities. We’re also getting certification from a national organization that says, ‘Yes you’re doing a good job and you’re doing the right thing.’”  

The rigorous APCO certification process evaluates the department across 10 comprehensive chapters that include an introduction followed by Agency Responsibilities, Organizational Integrity, General Knowledge and Skills, Tools, Equipment and Technology, Professional Competence, Public Safety Call Taker, Law Enforcement Dispatcher, Fire Service Dispatcher and Emergency Medical Service Dispatcher.  

To demonstrate its continuously evolving practices, the department submitted extensive documentation, including daily observation reports, training material, class agendas, worksheets and PowerPoints, as well as established policies and procedures.  

Surdam added, “There is a lot of time and effort put into properly training our personnel. Our telecommunicators have critical responsibilities when answering emergency calls. With established procedures and clear guidelines, they know what action to take, when to take it, and why each action is appropriate. This solid foundation is essential to our mission.” 

APCO International President Stephen Martini emphasized the importance of rigorous training, stating, “Proving their public safety telecommunicator training program aligns with an American National Standard through APCO’s Agency Training Program Certification illustrates this agency’s commitment to their team members to consistently protect citizens and coordinate seamlessly with their fellow responders.” 

This latest certification reaffirms the Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications' dedication to maintaining top tier training standards and ensuring its personnel are always ready to respond effectively in emergencies. 

For more information about the county’s Department of Public Safety Communications, visit pwcva.gov/pscc.