Smart 911 bridges the information gap for first responders

ROCK SPRINGS — When someone calls 911, the difference between a successful rescue and a tragedy often comes down to the information available in the first few seconds.

To bridge this gap, the Sweetwater County Combined Communications Center is encouraging residents to sign up for Smart 911, a digital service that provides dispatchers with instant access for life-saving data such as medical alerts, home floor plans, and emergency contacts.

The initiative was a part of the report delivered by Information Technology Director David Halter to the Rock Springs City Council on March 3. Halter noted that while GPS technology has improved a lot with RapidSOS pinpointing roughly 80.79% of calls within a few meters, location is only half of the mystery.

A Smart 911 Safety Profile serves as a digital backup for residents in crisis, according to Halter. The secure system allows for the pre-loading of critical details, including:

• Medical Alerts: Severe allergies, medications, and mobility limitations.
• Property Access: The exact locations of gas and water shut-offs and home floor plans.
• Emergency Contacts: Immediate notification of family members.

“If a resident has a safety profile, that information is immediately available to the dispatcher,” Halter explained. “We can then share that with first responders.”

The push for local registration is particularly crucial in Sweetwater County. 

Halter revealed 60% of 911 calls received by the center are from “307” area codes. The remaining 40% come from out-of-state travelers, largely along the Interstate 80 corridor. Having residents and businesses — including schools and local “Facility Profiles — registered in the system, dispatchers can prioritize and manage local emergencies, he said.

Residents can create their free, private Safety Profile by visiting Smart911.com or downloading the Smart911 app. The information is 100% private and only appears to 911 dispatchers when a call is placed from the registered phone number, Halter said.

The center also noted an increase in Text-to-911 usage. This feature has become a critical tool for individuals in danger who may be unable to speak on the phone or who need to remain silent to stay safe.

Members of the council expressed strong support for the technological updates following the presentation. Council members commended the efficiency of the system, particularly the “Facility Profiles” used by local school districts to provide blueprints during an emergency. The consensus among the council was that these digital tools are no longer just “add-ons” but are becoming “the essential standard for modern public safety in Wyoming.”

Controlling costs

While the technology is advanced, the center has made an effort to mitigate the financial impact on the city and county. Halter highlighted several key areas where the center is driving down costs:

• Recent infrastructure upgrades, including a new Uninterrupted Power Supply system, have significantly increased efficiency. The center reported using 3,000 kilowatt-hours less per month compared to the previous year.
• Grant Funding: The center successfully secured State Homeland Security Program grants totaling over $70,000 to replace aging camera and door access control systems. This allowed for a high-security upgrade (preventing card cloning) without using local capital funds.
• In-House Maintenance: By investing in a new radio service monitor, the center will now handle radio tuning and maintenance for partner agencies in-house. This shift is expected to significantly reduce the preventative maintenance budgets for local law enforcement and fire departments.
• Major Discount Negotiations: Halter also noted a recent success in securing a manufacturer’s discount for a radio console replacement, bringing the cost down by $500,000 from the regular price.

Mayor Max Mickelson expressed appreciation for these efforts, noting that the center’s work often goes unnoticed until a crisis strikes.

“The benefit rate of technology is massive and translates literally into lives saved,” Mickelson said, adding he appreciates the center’s work. “Nobody cares about a budget if they’ve been in a car wreck or their house is on fire, but you all are working very, very hard — not only to provide the support and services that all the partnering agencies and communities need, but also to control those costs.”

This story was published on March 11, 2026.