City Marks New Era of Public Safety
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Mayor Tim Keller along with about 400 members of the community celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of the new headquarters for the Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) located at 1210 San Mateo Blvd. SE.
ACS is a first-of-its-kind department, and these new headquarters are the first for an alternative health response department in nation. Since its inception two and a half years ago, ACS has responded to over 75,000 calls, employing an innovative behavioral health model with a non-law enforcement-led response. In prior years, many of these would have been calls fielded by first responders in the police and fire departments. Now, ACS diverts about 3,000 911 calls from those departments each month.
With its success as an innovated third branch of public safety, ACS has woven itself into the fabric of emergency response for the City of Albuquerque, but had no permanent home. The department had been leasing temporary space for its base of operations at the Gateway Center property. Now, ACS has its first permanent headquarters at a new 10,800-square-foot facility, located in the International District.
“Today marks a milestone for behavioral response departments all across the country.” said ACS Director Jodie Esquibel. “Our team takes incredible pride in being a national leader and we look forward to continuing our growth alongside the community.”
Mayor Tim Keller joins members of the community and ACS employees in ribbon cutting ceremony for new ACS Headquarters.
“Albuquerque is leading the nation in alternative first response, and ACS has become a blueprint for the rest of the country,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “By sending trained social workers and health workers to behavioral health calls, ACS has transformed public safety in Albuquerque, and now they have a permanent home base to continue growing and serving our community. ACS is here to stay.”
The community showed up to celebrate the milestone, enjoying free food, drinks, music and received a tour of the new facility, which along with housing ACS staff and programs, will also serve as a space for community resources and gatherings.
The new building has space for the growing number of ACS Responders, staff, and a dedicated space for training. It also holds a collaborative space where community members, community partners, Responders, and ACS Administrative staff will share ideas and work together to continue to serve our city.
Members of the community touring ACS Headquarters.
Being located in the International District Market means the new ACS headquarters will play an integral part in ensuring ACS is connected and engaged with the communities it serves. The $10 million-dollar project was paid for with General Obligation Bonds.
The growth of ACS will continue when the Southwest Safety Center located just north of 98th and Rio Bravo opens its doors in 2025. This facility will be the first of its kind for Albuquerque as it will house APD, AFR and ACS staff.
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About Albuquerque Community Safety: ACS 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.