Cottonwood and Camp Verde may be merging their 911 dispatch centers.
The Camp Verde Town Council unanimously approved sending a letter of intent to the State of Arizona 911 Administrator as the next stage of the consolidation review process of the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office Dispatch Services, at council’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
The letter, signed by CVMO Marshal Dan Jacobs, Camp Verde Mayor Marie Moore, Cottonwood Chief of Police Brian Freudenthal and Cottonwood Regional Communications Center Director Alexis James — will be sent to the Arizona 911 Program Director Greg Denton.
The letter states the intent to consolidate CVMO’s and the Cottonwood Regional Communications Center’s Public Safety Answering Point operations into the CRCC. Camp Verde currently operates two PSAP positions while the CRCC operates six.
Sending the letter of intent will initiate a process to identify operational steps, costs of implementation and a transition timeline before a recommendation is presented to council.
“The consolidation is intended to improve staffing sustainability, operational redundancy, regional interoperability, and continuity of 9-1-1 and public safety communications,” the letter states. “Combining the two PSAPs will also strengthen coordination among Verde Valley public safety agencies while allowing for more efficient use of personnel, technology, and 911 resources.”
Moore sought clarification on why they need the state’s approval as the next step before talking with the region first.
Jacobs stated that without the state’s approval they can’t move forward, so this next step is to avoid wasting time and effort.
The Arizona 911 Program is run by the Arizona Department of Administration, a state agency that centralizes state government operations.
CVMO Communications Supervisor Marie Carpenter stated that this letter is being sent because of studies done by various sources and recommendations. The letter asks the state to evaluate data such as call volume, processing time, transfer time, how many transfers are made and where they’re going and whether they are under or over-equipped.
From prior efforts, Carpenter said her understanding is that information will be gathered and the consolidation studies will be evaluated and made available to the public. She said that the state recommends a six-month process for a closure or consolidation.
Carpenter clarified that dispatching and call-taking are two different equipment pieces within a console, and they’re specifically referring to 911 equipment. If they reduce or increase their 911 equipment, that will determine whether or not it makes sense to continue having a dispatch center in Camp Verde.
Pierce Coleman PC law firm attorney Trish Stuhan, acting as the town’s attorney, clarified that the state 911 office is a funding partner and technical reviewer, and that it’s ultimately Camp Verde and Cottonwood’s decision to enter an intergovernmental agreement for consolidation or not. Stuhan added that the letter of intent is not legally binding.
The proposed consolidation remains subject to approval by the Town Council.
The Yavapai-Apache Nation is a subscriber agency to Camp Verde’s dispatch center and can choose to have the Yavapai-Apache Police Department join the center or swtich to another.
If the state approves the recommendation, Jacobs said that it’s feasible to say the target transition timeframe is the end of 2027.
Following the state’s approval, Town Council would schedule a work session or agenda item for the council and public to review, and the then-seated council would determine if they want to move forward with the process.
The new council members elected in July will be sworn in after the November election and that council will serve through November 2028.
“I’m thankful that somebody answers the phone,” Councilwoman Jessie Murdock said. “That’s what’s really most important for our communities. The intent of the letter is to understand more.”
Vice Mayor Wendy Escoffier suggested changing wording in the letter avoiding an explicit desire to transition Camp Verde’s 911 call answering and public safety dispatch responsibilities to CRCC to a desire to “continue to explore a transition.”
The motion to submit the letter of intent with revisions was approved unanimously.
