Campus switch to What-Comm 911 is complete

On Jan.1, the University Police Department (UPD) successfully transitioned to What-Comm 911 for emergency and non-emergency dispatch services. For emergencies, call 911. The non-emergency number for reaching UPD will remain (360) 650-3555.

This move aligns UPD with other local agencies and enables a more comprehensive approach to public safety. By partnering with What-Comm 911, not only will Western benefit from improved inter-agency communication, have access to advanced dispatch technology, and increase resilience during high-demand situations, but our community is safer. This transition provides enhanced communication between UPD and local law enforcement agencies, allowing for quicker and more effective response times to emergencies and critical incidents on and around Western’s Bellingham campus.

If you need the police, calling 911 and providing necessary information to the responding emergency personnel is always the best response. What-Comm 911 also has a text-to-911 capability, for more information see How to Text to 911. You can use the Western SAFE app, which can be downloaded to your mobile device to access police services 24/7 and 911 for emergencies. Download the Western SAFE app here.

We will continue to monitor the processes put in place to ensure a safe and secure environment is maintained for our students, faculty, and staff. For additional information, please refer to the Q&A on the UPD dispatch transition page.