Communications

 

 

Cortez 911 Communications Center
 
The Cortez 911 Communications Center is a regional multi-jurisdictional public safety answering point for all residents and visitors within Montezuma and Dolores Counties, including the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and Mesa Verde National Park.  The communications personnel within the center are trained to gather information from the callers and then dispatch that information to the Law Enforcement, Fire Department or Emergency Medical responders and equipment to the location of the emergency.
 
The Cortez 911 Communications Center was the first 911 center to use the VoIP (Voice over the Internet Protocol) technology in a 911 setting. We were the beta site for the PlantCML Patriot phone system. When the basic emergency service provider in Colorado is able to deliver data over the 911 system, such as text or photos, Cortez will be able to receive that information with a software upgrade. Each console position is also equipped with mapping capabilities to assist in locating those that call 911.
 
The Cortez 911 Communications Center also receives and dispatches non-emergency calls for service.   
 
Member Agencies that are dispatched by the Cortez Communications Center:
 
  • Cortez Police Department
  • Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dolores County Sheriff’s Office (part time)
  • Mancos Marshall’s Office
  • Mesa Verde National Park (part time)
  • Southwest Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services
  • Cortez Fire Department
  • Dolores Fire Department
  • Lewis Arriola Fire Department
  • Mancos Fire Department
  • Pleasant View Fire Department
  • Rico Fire Department
  • Empire Electric Association (part time)
 
Total calls for service 2005 58,796
  2006 53,595
  2007 53,252
  2008 53,889
Calls for service broke down for 2008:
Law Enforcement 44,223
Fire 1,352
Emergency Medical 1,728
Controlled Burns 1,851
Other 4,735
 
Total phone calls into dispatch for 2008 was 73,407, of which 12,479 were 911 calls