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Roswell mayor highlights public-safety overhaul, DHS partnership and new headquarters
Summary
Mayor Kurt Wilson used the State of the City address to summarize three years of changes in Roswell public safety: a multi-year transition to a full‑time fire department, technology pilots and a $5 million Department of Homeland Security partnership, plus purchases of office buildings for a consolidated public‑safety headquarters.
Mayor Kurt Wilson used his State of the City address to describe a multi‑year effort to strengthen Roswell’s police and fire services, citing a transition to a full‑time fire department, new technology pilots and purchases of office buildings for a consolidated public‑safety headquarters.
Wilson said the Roswell Fire Department moved from a part‑time model to a multi‑year plan to reach full staffing, and that the department is in the third year of a five‑year transition. He said the department began a pilot in July 2024 testing a 48:96 work schedule to study operational efficiency, firefighter sleep and health. “The Roswell Fire Department is becoming a leader in the National Fire Service,” he said.
The mayor reported a Department of Homeland Security partnership worth $5,000,000 with a company called Quake to develop an augmented‑reality and thermal imaging system called SeeThru to enhance firefighter safety. He said the department was among a select group in the nation chosen to test that technology.
Wilson also told residents the city used voter‑approved bond funds to purchase the Roswell Summit office buildings on Holcomb Bridge Road, and that the former sharpshooters property has been obtained for a new E‑911 center; both purchases are intended to house a new public‑safety headquarters and additional 911 capacity.
Police department improvements were also highlighted. Wilson said the city implemented “best in class” pay plans, achieved full staffing for police and emergency 911 services, and launched programs such as the Roswell Scribe Center and the Connect Roswell registry intended to aid crime prevention. He said Roswell Police have led human‑trafficking investigations, made multiple arrests and “rescued more than 50 human trafficking victims to date.”
Why it matters: Faster response times, improved staffing and new headquarters address continuity and coverage concerns the mayor said had long affected the city. The reported DHS partnership and technology pilots aim to change how first responders operate and could affect safety and procurement choices going forward.
Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the State of the City address by Mayor Kurt Wilson and remarks by city officials mentioned during that address. No formal council votes or ordinance adoptions were reported during the speech.
