Dispatch team fields heavy call volume while urging community awareness
FORT COLLINS — Fort Collins’ emergency communications center logged a substantial workload in September, answering 6,352 emergency calls with an average answer time of 3.18 seconds, according to a monthly report from Fort Collins Police Services.
The dispatch operation also handled 7,956 non‑emergency calls, bringing the month’s combined total to 14,308 calls. The report breaks down responses across public safety partners, recording 7,769 law enforcement calls and 2,460 fire and emergency medical services calls. Dispatchers also recorded 337 DCR launches, reflecting the breadth of coordinating tasks they perform every day.
Dispatchers act as the first point of contact for people in crisis, gathering critical information and directing resources for responding agencies. In the department’s description of responsibilities, staff members are characterized as “an essential link” between callers and first responders.
“Dispatchers serve as an essential link between people experiencing emergencies and the first responders sent to help.”
Those duties require rapid decision‑making and constant coordination among Fort Collins Police Services, Poudre Fire Authority, Wellington Protection District and UCHealth. The monthly figures highlight the volume and complexity of calls the communications team manages as part of the city’s public safety infrastructure.
What the numbers show
The September tally illustrates both the routine and the urgent demands on the system. The following table summarizes the reported activity:
| Category | September total |
|---|---|
| Emergency calls | 6,352 |
| Non‑emergency calls | 7,956 |
| Combined calls | 14,308 |
| Law enforcement calls | 7,769 |
| Fire & EMS calls | 2,460 |
| DCR launches | 337 |
Public safety beyond response times
Fort Collins Police Services used the release of the monthly statistics to underscore that public safety encompasses more than how quickly calls are answered. The department noted that October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and encouraged residents to learn how to recognize relationship abuse and to connect people experiencing domestic violence with confidential support.
Resources include the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which provides confidential assistance at 800‑799‑SAFE (7233). The department urged community members to use those services for information about warning signs, safety planning and local options for help.
Local emergency communications capacity ties directly to community resilience and the local economy. Quick, coordinated emergency response helps limit damage from accidents, medical events and other crises that can disrupt businesses, schools and services. In an era when extreme weather and other large‑scale incidents are more frequent in parts of the West, maintaining robust dispatch capability is a component of broader preparedness—even if the report does not attribute September activity to any single cause.
- Residents should program local emergency numbers and the hotline into phones for quick access.
- Community awareness and reporting can help identify non‑emergency issues before they escalate.
- Support for dispatch staffing and technology contributes to faster response and public safety continuity.
Officials did not release additional monthly trends or comparisons to prior months in the report. Still, the September snapshot provides a clear measure of demand placed on the communications center and a reminder of the human and technical resources required to keep Fort Collins safe and functioning.
Anyone seeking help for domestic violence or wanting more information about warning signs and services can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800‑799‑SAFE (7233) or visit the hotline’s website for confidential support.
