Colorado State Patrol Emergency Dispatchers Saw an Increase in Calls for Service in 2021
(COLO) – With the arrival of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) beginning April 10, the Colorado State Patrol wants to honor the men and women who serve in the Colorado State Patrol’s six centers as well as those who work in regional and local communication centers around the state.
In the last two years staffing has been a challenge for every industry and emergency dispatch was no exception. Yet answering an emergency call is not optional. In fact, as the calls for service surpassed 2020 by over 28% in 2021 (1,121,083 total emergency calls), the Colorado State Patrol was faced with requiring overtime for the dedicated communication officers in four of the six communication centers.
“The dedication of our communication officers cannot be adequately put into words,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “How can a person fully express the gratitude he or she feels when a Communication Officer provides a reliable, calming presence to a distressed son, mother, friend, or loved one? These professionals are literally the lifeline for dozens of people each shift they work.”
Presently the Colorado State Patrol has over 30 openings across its six regional centers located in the areas of Alamosa, Craig, Denver, Montrose and Pueblo.
“As the 9-1-1 call center for the entire San Luis Valley, the communication officers at the Alamosa Regional Communication Center (ARCC) are truly the calming voice for those in need," said Cameron Decker, Regional Manager for ARCC. “Every one of them has a connection to the communities we serve and are true heroes as the first - first responders. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with and serve alongside on a daily basis. They are truly unsung heroes!”
Last year the six Colorado State Patrol centers answered over 69,300 Road Rage/Report Every Drunk Driver (REDDI) calls from people daily *CSP. In addition, these same teams handled over 3,800 emergency medical dispatch calls which provide lifesaving instructions and dispatch services to the caller.
Individuals interested in this career can become a trainee, no experience is required. Applicants accepted into the program are provided extensive training (12-23 weeks) depending upon the complexity of the communication center. To learn more about this Colorado State Patrol career path or to speak with someone who can answer your questions, visit the employment section of this website.
The Colorado State Patrol Communications Branch is one of only a handful of Communication Agencies nationwide that is both CALEA accredited and APCO-P33 certified. This level of systematic review and internal assessment of its operations and procedures ensures the highest quality of services to Colorado visitors and residents.
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ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE PATROL
Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the Governor and other dignitaries’ protection, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more.