Friday, April 24, 2026 |
Photo – Dispatch center – Bigfoot99 file photo
County officials, this week, discussed the possibility of Rawlins joining the unified emergency dispatch center.
Earlier this month, the Rawlins City Council formed an exploratory taskforce to investigate whether the city should join the Carbon County Unified Dispatch Center. Two years ago, Sheriff Alex Bakken proposed consolidating all the county’s emergency call centers under one roof.
At that time, law enforcement officials, including the sheriff, Rawlins Police Chief Mike Ward, and then‑Saratoga Chief Mike Morris began reviewing if a single, combined dispatch center was an option for Carbon County. The group visited counties that had consolidated multiple agencies into a single entity.
Speaking at the April 15th Rawlins City Council meeting, Chief Ward said every law enforcement officer he consulted during those visits advised against the idea of forming a unified dispatch center.
Last July, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office assumed dispatching duties for the Platte Valley from the Saratoga Police Department. Operations are now overseen by a joint powers board made up of representatives from the sheriff’s office and the Saratoga PD. The Rawlins Police Department’s dispatch center remains independent, handling emergency 911 calls for the entire county. Calls from outside city limits are transferred to the appropriate agency, such as Wyoming Highway Patrol or the sheriff’s office.
Despite Chief Ward’s objections, the Rawlins City Council formed a committee to determine what, if any, benefits participating in the county system would provide.
During the April 21st Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Encampment, Sheriff Bakken announced the city’s intention to explore the possibility of joining the unified dispatch center.
The sheriff said combining the two agencies would likely provide better service to the community.
Sheriff Bakken said that he has been reaching out to consulting firms to conduct a feasibility study. The sheriff said the resulting analysis will determine if merging with the Rawlins Police Department’s dispatch center is the best course of action.
When the study is completed, Sheriff Bakken said he will be better prepared to address questions that come up during future discussions about combined dispatch.
The sheriff added that he is seeking a grant to help cover the cost of the feasibility study. Eventually, City of Rawlins will have to share in the ultimate cost of the study with the county.
Sheriff Bakken defended the cost of the study, saying he has an obligation to find the most effective and efficient way to provide law enforcement to the residents of Carbon County.
In the meantime, Sheriff Bakken said he will invite the Rawlins exploratory taskforce to join the Carbon County Unified Dispatch Center Joint Powers Board meetings.
