EPSO Regional Communications Center Earns Award for Dispatch Excellence

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center has once again earned international recognition, receiving Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) status from The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) for emergency service dispatching. Originally achieving Medical ACE status in 1999 as the 29th Medical ACE worldwide, this latest re-accreditation marks the Center’s 9th consecutive achievement of this prestigious honor.

“I could not be more proud of the men and women of our Regional Communications Center,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “This accreditation represents the highest level of professional achievement in emergency communications, and it reflects the extraordinary skill, commitment, and heart our call takers and dispatchers bring to every call.

“They are the calm in the chaos—the first, first responders who ensure help is on the way. Day in and day out, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—through sunshine, rain, or snow—they are a lifeline of reliability to our deputies and to the community we serve. Earning this honor for the ninth consecutive time demonstrates their consistency, resilience, and unwavering dedication to El Paso County.”

IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide. Accreditation (and subsequent re-accreditation) from the IAED is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying the center is performing at or above the established standards for the industry. Centers who earn ACE status are the embodiment of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.

“Accreditation is truly a pinnacle achievement”, said Christof Chwojka, Accreditation Board Chair at International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. “We applaud the dedicated calltakers, dispatchers, and leadership team at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for their commitment to quality, and for meeting that high standard that few achieve. We know their community can count on these first, first responders to do an outstanding job.”

IAED Accreditation is the culmination of a lengthy, arduous process which includes the completion of the 20 Points of Accreditation, a detailed evaluation of performance by industry experts, and a final review and ruling by IAED.

About the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch

For more than 40 years, the IAED has been the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch and response services worldwide and is the leading body of emergency dispatch experts. They are a member-driven association working to serve the public through the professional development of dispatchers. Their various boards and councils work on behalf of the membership—and in coordination with other public safety organizations—to ensure the comprehensive system of emergency dispatching is as safe, fast, effective, and up-to-date as possible.

IAED Media Contact

Matthew Miko
Director of Academics, Research, and Communications
matthew.miko@emergencydispatch.org

Recent News Articles

Inmate Death at the El Paso County Jail

At approximately 5:33 AM on November 10, 2026, a 58-year-old (incarcerated) male was found unresponsive in his bunk at the El Paso County Jail. El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies and medical staff quickly began rendering lifesaving efforts. At approximately 5:54 AM, medical personnel from American Medical Response (AMR) and the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) arrived and assumed medical

Read More »

Officer-Involved Shooting Near Aviator Apartment

On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the Colorado Springs Police Department’s (CSPD) Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force Unit (VOFTFU) was investigating the location of a wanted individual near the Aviator Apartments, located in the 1600 block of North Murray Boulevard. The 27-year-old suspect, Davijo Velarde, had an active warrant related to a recent felony. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO)

Read More »

Eight Volunteers Earn Wildland Firefighter II Certification at El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Ceremony

This week, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office recognized eight volunteers at a graduation ceremony at the Office of the Sheriff, celebrating their successful completion of the 2026 Wildland Fire Academy. Each graduate earned Firefighter II Certification. The hands-on, three-week academy began on October 10, 2026, and provided each cadet with more than 65 hours of classroom instruction and field

Read More »

Deputy Sheriff Arrested on Felony Charges

In November 2025, detectives from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division were alerted to the possibility a deputy assigned to the El Paso County Jail was facilitating the distribution of contraband throughout the facility. Detectives with the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) launched a months-long investigation which included executing multiple search warrants, conducting interviews, reviewing video footage, and reviewing

Read More »

Contact Information

Phone
(719) 520-7100

Address
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
27 East Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Office hours
8:00 am – 4:30 pm