Albuquerque Community Safety Marks 100,000 Calls for Service Milestone

ALBUQUERQUE - Today, Mayor Tim Keller, along with 300 members of the community, celebrated a major milestone for Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS): its 100,000th call for service. This achievement reflects ACS’s instrumental role in providing compassionate, trauma-informed response to 911 calls involving mental and behavioral health issues.

As the City’s third public safety department, ACS responds to calls involving mental and behavioral health, welfare checks, substance use issues, suicidal ideation, and other public safety issues that do not require law enforcement or fire department response.

By providing care-centered support, ACS reduces the burden on police and fire while ensuring that those in need receive empathy, connection, and the right response at the right time. ACS’s holistic model is built on community collaboration, working closely with local service providers to connect individuals with meaningful support.

What started as a bold vision in 2021—handling about 900 calls per month—has grown into a trusted, citywide resource, now responding to more than 3,000 calls each month. In September 2023, ACS expanded to 24/7 operations, ensuring help is available any time of day or night. The department marked another milestone in 2024 by opening its standalone headquarters—the first of its kind in the nation for an alternative public safety response.

Albuquerque’s innovative approach to public safety has garnered national recognition, with other cities, including Seattle, working to adopt ACS's model as part of their own alternative response programs.

At event today’s event, community member Candace shared her story as one of the 100,000 calls for service. ACS helped her when she was homeless and struggling with substance use. Responders got her into emergency shelter, then helped transition her into long term recovery housing and support at Frontline Resurrection. Candace expressed gratitude for ACS’s compassionate response and empathy to help get her life back on track.

Special guest speaker, Candace shares her personal experience with ACS. Accompanying her at the podium was ACS Peer Denise Thomas and Candace’s daughter Sega.

Fire Chief Jaramillo highlighted another call where AFR administered naloxone to a person to reverse their overdose. Community Safety peer support workers then connected them to longer term treatment, staying in touch and making sure they had the kind of continued support and contact they needed to get on a path to recovery.

"Albuquerque Community Safety was never a temporary solution, but a long-term commitment to improving public safety and doing things differently to better serve our city," said Mayor Tim Keller. "This milestone reflects the trust and recognition Albuquerque Community Safety has earned as a leader in alternative response that is making a difference every day.”

"As we celebrate this important feat, it’s clear that ACS is changing the way we approach community safety,” said Director Jodie Esquibel. “Every call represents a person in need, and we're proud to be there with the resources and support they deserve."

ACS remains committed to growing its capacity, improving services, and leading the charge in alternative response to ensure the safety and health of all Albuquerque residents.

###

Albuquerque Community Safety is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.