San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – Today Mayor London N. Breed and the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) celebrated the opening of San Francisco’s newly renovated 911 Dispatch Center. The significant upgrades to the facility, located at 1011 Turk Street, will enhance the City’s emergency response capabilities by allowing dispatch capacity to grow over time and surge in the event of a major emergency. The project, funded by a bond approved by San Francisco voters in 2020, was completed on time and on budget.

San Francisco’s Dispatch Center, one of the top 25 busiest in the U.S., receives an average of 3,200 calls every day. Public Safety Communications Dispatchers work with first responders including Police, Fire, EMS personnel, Street Crisis Response, and the Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART) to respond to emergencies across the City.

The new Dispatch Center features a variety of improvements, including five additional dispatcher workstations – bringing the number to 55 - with room for further expansion to accommodate hiring growth, a new dispatcher training room to serve the growing number of trainees, an updated break room, and an elevated supervisor workspace reconfigured for enhanced oversight.

Mayor London Breed emphasized the importance of the new facility, stating, “The opening of this new and improved Dispatch Center is a critical step forward in our work to protect the safety and well-being of all San Franciscans.”

The Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response (ESER) Bond Program, which funded the project, aims to bolster earthquake safety and emergency response resiliency through capital improvements to critical infrastructure. Mary Ellen Carroll, DEM Executive Director, highlighted the role of dispatchers, saying, “Our dispatchers are on the front lines every day, providing a calm voice on the other end of the phone and an assurance that help is on the way for residents, workers, and visitors in need.”

San Francisco Public Works Director Carla Short expressed gratitude for the opportunity to deliver improvements to the Dispatch Center, emphasizing its role as a vital nerve center connecting dispatchers, first responders, and the community.

SFPD Chief Bill Scott commended the dispatchers for their crucial work, stating, “Dispatchers are the first point of contact when people call for help during an emergency. They remain calm and professional under some of the most stressful situations imaginable.”

The new 911 Dispatch Center was also praised by SFFD Chief Jeanine Nicholson, who noted that it will help better serve the needs of residents and visitors in San Francisco. Sheriff Paul Miyamoto expressed gratitude towards the voters and emphasized the importance of a supportive workspace for the unsung heroes of public safety.

The Department of Emergency Management is actively hiring 911 Dispatchers to join the team, offering competitive base salaries and excellent benefits to those who work with first responders to protect the lives of residents and visitors in San Francisco.