University Police Dispatch moving to What-Comm 911

Nothing will change for general members of the Western community who need after-hours access to a building or who want to report a non-emergency problem on campus. The dispatch change is expected to improve safety, maintain service, and reduce costs while supporting the campus community and the work of our university police.

While the budget savings represented by moving dispatch off campus were a motivation for the timing of the transition, increasing the safety of the campus community motivated the initial plan for making the change. The consolidation of dispatch streamlines communication between our university police officers and other responding agencies, allowing for greater awareness of incidents throughout the county and faster coordination and response times, ultimately leading to faster assistance for the members of our community.

The transition to What-Comm 911 is a strategic decision to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our emergency response services. This change will enable us to provide improved support and better serve our campus community.

The transition to What-Comm 911 will not change our current emergency response protocols. We aim to make the transition as smooth as possible, ensuring that our community continues to receive prompt and reliable emergency services.

You will still dial 911 or 360-650-3911 for emergencies and 360-650-3555 for non-emergencies. These numbers remain the same, ensuring that you can reach us quickly and conveniently during critical situations.

If you are ever in doubt, do not hesitate to dial 911. Our trained dispatchers will assess the situation and provide appropriate guidance or assistance.

We anticipate the transition to What-Comm 911 will not impact emergency response times. However, since officers will not have on-campus dispatch support, some non-emergency duties may experience slightly longer wait times. We are committed to maintaining our high standards of service, and our dedicated team will continue to respond to emergencies promptly.

The transition to What-Comm 911 will not affect our existing safety measures on campus. We will continue to maintain a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and faculty.

We will provide regular updates on the University Police website and through email newsletters. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us directly at university.police@wwu.edu.