City of Boulder Announces New Public Safety Information Center to Advance Coordinated, Community-Centered Safety

The City of Boulder has launched a new Public Safety Information Center (PSIC) to serve as a centralized hub for real-time data coordination across multiple municipal departments. This facility integrates advanced technologies, including an expanded Drones as First Responder (DFR) program and Axon Fusus software, to enhance situational awareness during emergencies such as wildfires, floods, and active shooter incidents. For the public safety technology sector, this initiative represents a significant move toward cross-departmental data unification and the formalization of real-time crime center capabilities within a municipal environment.

The PSIC will be housed at the Boulder Police Department but will operate as a shared resource for Boulder Fire-Rescue, Utilities, and Open Space and Mountain Parks, among others. A primary component of the center is the expansion of the Drones as First Responder (DFR) program, which utilizes unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to provide aerial views of scenes within minutes. Police Chief Steve Redfearn noted that these drones allow for smarter decision-making and more efficient resource allocation by providing a clear, real-time view of unfolding incidents. The drones will be used for high-priority calls like active shooters as well as lower-priority checks to avoid unnecessary dispatching of ground resources.

Beyond drone operations, the center will leverage Axon Fusus software to integrate various data streams, including body-worn camera footage and other information systems, into a single operational picture. This platform includes the Boulder Community Connect Portal, a voluntary module allowing residents and business owners to register or share private security camera footage with the city. This integration is designed to aid investigations and provide immediate situational awareness during emergencies, with the city emphasizing that participation is entirely consensual and governed by strict privacy policies, role-based permissions, and audit logs.

The center’s utility extends to environmental and infrastructure monitoring, complementing existing tools like the AlertWest Wildfire video surveillance system. Fire-Rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo highlighted that the situational awareness provided by these tools will improve crew safety and service levels during wildland fire responses by helping commanders understand ground conditions and resource needs. Additionally, the PSIC will coordinate drone use for large-scale community events like the Sundance Film Festival and monitor utility emergencies or hard-to-reach terrain. To ensure transparency, the city maintains that all drone flights are documented, footage is stored according to state records retention schedules, and no passive or routine surveillance is conducted.