District 3 Councilor Pena, Mayor Keller Welcome Gov. Grisham for Southwest Safety Center Groundbreaking

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Mayor Tim Keller, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Senators Michael Padilla and Linda Lopez, and Representatives Patricia Roybal Caballero, Joy Garrett, Eleanor Chavez, and Art De La Cruz gathered with members of the west side community to break ground on the new Southwest Safety Center. The innovative facility will help first responders better serve families in the area, improve call times, and be a hub for resources.

“As Albuquerque continues to grow west with more families, schools and business in the area, we know there is a major need for an updated facility like this one,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “When it comes to first response times, minutes matter, and our first responders we will be able to get the calls quicker and have a significant presence in this community.”

“I was proud to contribute $3 million toward this public safety priority in southwest Albuquerque,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “This safety center is unique in that it brings together law enforcement, firefighters, and Albuquerque Community Safety, allowing for better collaboration and safer neighborhoods.”

“I am pleased that residents and businesses here in District 3 will soon have the resources of our city’s first responders more readily available,” said Councilor Klarissa Peña. “The community has seen consistent growth in housing, business, and economic development. The SW Public Safety Center will increase safety by decreasing emergency call response times and will enhance public confidence in our first responders.”

The Southwest Safety Center will bring the City’s three branches of public safety, APD, AFR, and ACS, together for the first time at one location. The 21,000-square-foot facility will increase safety for families in this growing area by reducing call response times and creating a more prominent public safety presence. For example, with the addition of Fire Station 23 at the center of the complex, AFR will be able to get to high priority calls four minutes faster, and lower priority calls eight minutes faster.

“It has been 20 years since the City of Albuquerque added a new fire station to help meet the needs of our community as homes and businesses are built in newly developed neighborhoods,” said AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo. “Over the past 20 years, our call volume has risen about 40% and Fire Station 23 will be the first new fire station to help address the demands for service to meet response times to our residents on the southwest mesa.”

“APD already works closely with AFR and ACS, but having the three departments housed together in one place will surely help the community and departments’ partnerships with one another,” said APD Deputy Chief Cecily Barker. “The most exciting part about this center is that there will be meeting spaces available at this location that will be ideal for APD officers to meet with neighborhood associations, neighborhood watch groups and community members.”

“The Southwest Safety Center will not only strengthen our collaborative efforts but also symbolize our shared vision for a safer, more connected, and resilient community where everyone can thrive,” said ACS Director Maria Ruiz-Angel.

Phase one of construction includes Fire Station 23 and APD’s public safety facility. ACS’s building is currently in design. Once all phases are complete, the center will include:

• A four-bay garage for AFR
• 3,000 square feet for APD
• 2,000 square feet for ACS

The $23.9 million project was funded through general obligation bonds passed by the voters, and other city and state funds, including state capital outlay.