On November 13, 2024, officials from Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina, held a special meeting to discuss consolidating their 911 communication centers. The meeting took place at 2 p.m. and included leaders from both the city and county. The goal was to consider whether a unified emergency response system could better serve the area’s growing population. Both governments identified public safety as a priority and reviewed several models for joint operation.
During the meeting, staff presented a report with recommendations from a public safety working group. This group was established by Mayor Mitch Colvin and County Commissioner Chair Kirk deViere. Mayor Colvin stated that a unified 911 center could improve operational efficiency and community safety. He said collaboration could benefit residents and strengthen emergency response.
Two main governance models were discussed. The first was a Joint 911 Communications Board with representatives from public safety agencies, volunteer fire departments, the Sheriff’s office, and EMS. This board would manage policy, budget, staffing, and technology. The second model proposed single-entity control, with either the city or county leading operations and an advisory board offering input…