By David Leavitt
APD Chief
and J.D. Sutphen
Box Butte County Sheriff
Effective April 1st, at 7:00 a.m., the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office will once again be dispatched locally by the Alliance Public Safety Communications Center. In 2023, dispatch operations were moved to the Scotts Bluff County Communications Center. “Having worked in several communications centers in different parts of the country, it made sense to me to have everything dispatched under one roof,” said Chief Leavitt. “The officers can communicate with each other on a common frequency, back each other up when necessary, and respond to calls in an efficient manner. This increases officer safety and the ability to respond quickly to emergencies.” Currently, 9-1-1 calls coming in from the county are answered here, but must be transferred to Scotts Bluff County Communications before deputies are dispatched. “This creates a delay in service, and a diminished response for the citizens of Box Butte County. By consolidating everything under one roof, everybody wins.” Chief Leavitt commented.
When asked for comment, Sheriff Sutphen stated “First of all, I would like to thank the Scotts Bluff County Communications Center for helping us out during this time. The police department and the sheriff’s office have a great relationship, and it was the right time to do this. This will be a savings for taxpayers, improve our communications, and it’s just the right thing to do”.
Communications Center staff would like to remind citizens that all phone numbers to request law enforcement will not change. If you have a true emergency, please call 9-1-1, this enables us to immediately see your name, phone number, as well as your location on a map. For non-emergency calls within the City of Alliance please call 308-762-4955. For the non-emergency Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office line please call 308-762-6464 and press 1 for dispatch. If you have any questions about communications in Box Butte County, please contact Hannah Gerth, our communications supervisor at 308-762-4955.