I write on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (VA APCO) to endorse the in-service training requirements recommended by the Dispatcher Curriculum Review Committee (CRC) and the Committee on Training (COT) in 2016.

Many public safety disciplines require in-service training, and the VA APCO Board believes dispatchers, also known as public safety telecommunicators (PSTs), similarly require ongoing learning and development. Virginia’s PSTs (dispatchers) face constantly changing technologies, policies, and threats to public safety, which require continuous development and practice.

As DCJS aptly notes in the NOIRA Background Document, “dispatchers are often the first responders to emergency situations.” The first of the first responders, Virginia’s telecommunicators handle critical incidents every day and must be trained to handle some of the most complex and dire problems our citizens face. As we described to Virginia’s Congressional delegation, “PSTs process multiple streams of information in each ear. They synthesize in real-time each new icon, light, or sound across multiple screens and disparate phone, radio, and dispatch systems, applying complex policies, procedures, and skills. The call to focus is instant and acute. The application of judgement is rapid and of dire consequence. This is more than just the adept use of multi-focal technologies, but constant integration, query, response, problem solving, rapid judgement, and quick thinking.” This is critical, life-saving work, performed by dedicated professionals who deserve our commitment to their success and the safety of the public. We strongly support the ongoing training of these public safety professionals today, just as we did in our initial filing on 60VAC20-60 in early 2016. (https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewcomments.cfm?commentid=49634)

Virginia APCO looks forward to working with and supporting DCJS in implementing in-service requirements in the coming months, including supporting online training to accommodate the diverse staffing and budgets of the Commonwealth’s dispatch community. We thank DCJS for the opportunity to comment for its efforts supporting public safety telecommunications in Virginia.