About Us

The Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department (Seattle CARE Department) is responsible for 9-1-1 emergency calls in Seattle. When you call 9-1-1, we are here to help. 

The Seattle CARE Department's 9-1-1 Communications Center handles approximately 900,000 calls per year and is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and serves callers with interpretation needs and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

The Seattle CARE Department was originally known as the Community Safety and Communications Center (CSCC) and was the home of the Seattle 9-1-1 Communications Center, formerly part of the Seattle Police Department. In 2023, Mayor Harrell renamed the Department as part of an expansion of its work and scope, to become a third public safety department and provide diversified responses to public safety and health incidents.

Our Mission 

The mission of the Seattle CARE Department is to improve public safety, by unifying and aligning the City's community-focused public safety investments and services, to resolve low-risk calls for behavioral health matters though diversified reponses that are evidence-based, effective, innovative and compassionate.

Our Priorities 

1. Emergencies: Our top priority is to quickly answer emergency requests for service, regardless of how they are received, properly screen those requests, connect callers to the right team of first responders, and effectively dispatch resources to address the emergency. 
2. Notifications: We operate paging and communications systems notifying Seattle CARE Department and Seattle Police Department employees of mission-specific information on a 24/7/365 basis, and to notify the public of specific emergencies and conditions.   
3. Non-Emergencies: We answer non-emergency calls and route them for dispatch if appropriate.  
4. Reports: We take police reports when appropriate via telephone or assist with referral to the Seattle Police online crime reporting system.