ACS Welcomes New Graduating Class of Responders
Growth strengthens impact on community well-being
ALBUQUERQUE – Albuquerque’s commitment to mental and behavioral health took another step forward today as 13 new responders graduated from the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Responder Academy. Monday afternoon’s graduation ceremony, held at the Albuquerque Museum, marks the successful completion of rigorous training by two recent classes made up of behavioral health responders and peer support specialists.
ACS Academy Class 2024-03 completed in an eight-week academy of instruction while ACS Academy Class 2025-01 became the first twelve-week academy. Each group then moved on to 240 hours of specialized on-the-job-training.
Core to their preparation was ACS’s signature WE CARE program which uses professional crisis actors to simulate real-life situations responders may face in the field.
“ACS represents the best of what community-focused public safety can be,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We are proud to welcome this new class of dedicated individuals who are stepping up to support their neighbors with compassion and professionalism.”
One Albuquerque Media video of event.
The addition of these new Responders enhances ACS's capacity to manage more 911 and 311 calls. Since inception, ACS has handled over 113,000 calls for service.
“This graduation is more than just a milestone, it's a reflection of the trust our community places in us,” said ACS Director Jodie Esquibel. “With every new responder, we’re building a more responsive, more humane public safety system.”
ACS continues to serve as a national model for how cities can approach behavioral health, substance use, homelessness, and crisis response with innovative, non-police solutions.
The new responders not only strengthen ACS’s commitment to exceptional care and community support but also represent another important step forward in its mission to enhance public safety for all Albuquerque residents.
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About Albuquerque Community Safety: ACS is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.