Emergency Communications Center
Public Announcement:
The BRETSA Board will have a Special Meeting for the purpose of developing an RFP for services for which BRETSA is considering contracting. Meeting will be held on August 15, 2024 at 11:00 am at Boulder County Sheriff’s Office HQ. For inquiries regarding this meeting call 720-564-2940.
Details regarding BRETSA emergency telephone charges.
About the Longmont Emergency Communications Center (LECC)
The personnel of the LECC are the critical link between the community and police, fire and medical responders 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. The dedicated and skilled Communication Specialists of the LECC are responsible for answering 911, text-to-911 and non-emergency calls using state of the art technology. All LECC members are cross trained to evaluate, prioritize, and assign every incident to the most appropriate resource. Additionally, Communication Specialists are trained and certified to begin life-saving instructions to callers through Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD). In 2023, the LECC answered over 153,600 phone calls, assigned 110,155 to police services and 13,616 to fire services.
The Longmont Emergency Communications Center is budgeted for 24 full-time Communication Specialists, 5 Shift Supervisors, 1 Technical Systems Specialist, 1 Senior Functional System Analyst and 1 Manager.
When should you dial 9-1-1?
911 is the phone number that should be dialed whenever police, fire or ambulance services are needed for an EMERGENCY. When you dial 911 from your landline phone from a fixed location in your home, your address and phone number will show up on the phone screen in the dispatch center. Cell phones do not show your current location and you will need to provide this information. Dialing 911 is used when someone is hurt or in danger, or if you are in immediate need of police, fire or medical assistance.
What if I dial 9-1-1 by mistake?
DO NOT HANG UP! You may have called 911 by accident, or your situation may have resolved itself, but it is important to let the 911 operator know this. The Communication Specialists are going to assume that something has gone very wrong and will either call you back or send help anyway. This is particularly important if you dial from a business phone with several phone lines. Anytime the dispatcher receives a 911 “hang-up” the caller must be contacted to be sure that no actual emergency exists. When receiving a 911 disconnect from a residence, an officer must be dispatched to the residence. If your business has dozens of phone lines, it may be impossible for the dispatcher to determine who, if anyone, needs help. In 2023 there were 10,435 911 disconnects.
Using Text to 911
Longmont citizens and visitors can reach 911 by text if necessary. The guidance is: Call if You Can, Text If You Must! Text to 911 should be used when a voice call is not possible due to lack of cell coverage or a dangerous situation. You will still need to be able to provide your address as well as the details of the emergency. Text-to-911 is beneficial for the speaking or hearing impaired who may be better served by the ability to text or message with a method more convenient for citizens than the conventional TTD/TTY services. If a resident does need to send a text, it should be simple, brief and concise and should not use abbreviations.
What To Expect When Dialing 911
It is imperative that you know your location when calling 911 from a cell phone. While landline phones typically provide an exact address, cell phones CAN NOT CURRENTLY provide the communications center your exact location to send help. Have your address ready, or use landmarks, mile markers and road signs to describe where you are. Cell phones do not always direct you to the proper agency either and you may need to be transferred to another agency for assistance. If this happens, remain patient and wait for the call taker to transfer you. Please know the cell phone number from which you are calling as the communications center may need to contact you if the connection is lost.
Do not hang up, as it is important to remain on the line and answer the questions to the best of your ability. In an emergency, the questions DO NOT DELAY the field responders being dispatched and in fact will better aide them to assist you when they arrive on scene.
The Communication Specialist will ask:
- The address and location of your emergency
- The phone number from which you are calling
- The type of emergency you are reporting
- Your name
- Other relevant questions to include field responder safety material
If your call is a medical issue, the Communication Specialist will begin Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and provide pre-arrival instructions to help the patient until Fire/EMS arrives. Again, this does not delay response!
Kristine Mason is the Longmont Emergency Communications Center Manager. She can be reached by email or by phone at (303) 651-8560.
The Longmont Emergency Communications Center reports to the Public Safety Chief. Public Safety Chief Ardis can be reached by email or by phone at (303) 651-8533.
Longmont Emergency Communications Center. Manager Kristine Mason. (303) 651-8560
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