DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, alongside Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah, Director McGaffin of the Office of Unified Communications (OUC), and other officials, officially opened the doors of the renovated Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) after an $18.5 million overhaul. The revamp included significant infrastructure improvements, such as stabilizing power systems and expanding the center's layout. These upgrades were made to ensure the city's ability to manage emergency communications without interruptions, according to a report by dc.gov.
In addition to the renovations, Mayor Bowser is looking to grow the city's public safety sector financially with the Fiscal Year 2026 budget by proposing to not only increase the starting salary of 911 call takers to $61,313, but to also directly invest $1 million into recruitment and retention bonuses for these critical workers. “This Public Safety Communications Center is another investment in a safer, stronger DC, and with my Fiscal 2026 budget, we’re making new investments in the call takers who are the backbone of these operations,” Mayor Bowser told dc.gov.
Last year, the OUC handled a staggering 1.7 million emergency calls, dispatched services nearly 900,000 times, and managed over 500,000 service requests through 311. Deputy Mayor Appiah highlighted the team milestone, emphasizing the importance of the varied roles within the PSCC, and praised the government and business partners who support the dispatch and operational activities. “Behind OUC in the delivery of their mission is a powerful team of committed government and business partners supporting various functions such as computer aided dispatch, telephony, location services, numerous hardware and software applications, and more to ensure provide accurate, professional, and expedited service,” Deputy Mayor Appiah stated in an interview with dc.gov.
The enhancements to PSCC are expected to significantly improve the operations of both 911 and 311 services. OUC Director McGaffin expressed optimism about the renewed facility's capability to ensure the success of these communications services. “The reopening of the PSCC is a triumph for our agency and will ensure the continued success of 911 and 311 operations,” McGaffin said, according to dc.gov. “With Mayor Bowser’s bold investments in OUC, we will continue to grow our footprint, our workforce, and our technology.” With a forward-looking budget, the District is setting a precedent on valuing and empowering the individuals who serve as first points of contact in emergencies.
