JeffCom 911 Consolidated Dispatch Center Opens

LAKEWOOD, CO -- Lakewood emergency dispatchers got a little choked up as they said goodbye to their dispatch center as part of a consolidation that will merge eight different police and fire dispatch units.

"The Lakewood Police Department is no stranger to change," a woman's voice narrates on a goodbye video posted by the department Thursday. "Often described as organized because of its chaos, change brings us distress and difficulty, but it also invokes innovation and creativity... Today change brings us to the end of an era. The Lakewood Communications Center is no more.... We must have the courage to let go, so that we may have the freedom to embrace whatever may come."

Dispatchers from eight police departments and fire stations throughout the county are now housed together in Lakewood dispatching for emergencies throughout the county under the name "Jeffcom 911."

"Residents won’t have to do anything new or different when faced with an emergency situation," the Jeffcom website said. "Simply dial 9-1-1 for emergencies, and the same non-emergency phone numbers will remain in effect."

Jeffcom will have a total of 136 dispatchers representing the eight member agencies, with 25-30 on the floor at any given time, the Denver Post reported.

The eight participating agencies are Arvada Fire Protection, Arvada Police Department, Evergreen Fire Protection, Golden Police & Fire, Jeffco Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, West Metro Fire Protection and Wheat Ridge Police Department.

The JeffCom 911 Dispatch Center is also hiring, Lakewood Police announced. The deadline for applications is April 10 at noon.

Image via JeffCom 911