Vail Police Department

09/03/2026

The Vail Public Safety Communications Center (VPSCC) has deployed a new virtual assistant for non-emergency calls. The system instantly answers the center's non-emergency line at 970-479-2200 and handles routine calls for service so telecommunicators can stay focused on 911 calls.

VPSCC handles emergency communications for nearly all of Eagle County. In 2025, the center answered more than 100,000 calls, but only 28,000 were 911 emergencies. The other 72,000 calls were non-emergency requests that took telecommunicators away from emergency operations.

The center has selected AVA, a virtual assistant from the company Aurelian, to answer non-emergency calls with zero-second hold times and conduct natural conversations in over 55 languages across voice, text and web chat. It collects incident information, creates calls for service directly in the center's dispatch system, and monitors every conversation for signs of an emergency. When AVA detects an emergency, it immediately transfers the call to a live telecommunicator.

Seasonal spikes in population and call volume exacerbate an already challenging environment for the Vail Public Safety Communications Center. AVA not only helps the center serve the county’s fluctuating demand, but it also allows visitors to call in over several languages without straining the team.

"This system will help ensure our telecommunicators are available for 911 calls while every non-emergency call for service still gets attention," said Zak Sheets, director of VPSCC. "We serve a community of 55,000 that can more than double during peak seasons. This gives our team the bandwidth to focus on emergency calls."

For more information on VPSCC, visit www.vail.gov/government/vail911.

09/03/2026

Most Town of Vail municipal offices and the Vail Public Library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. The police front counter in the Municipal Building will also be closed on Sept. 7; however, services will still be available via the call button at the main entrance. Call 911 for police, fire or medical emergencies or call 970-479-2201 to speak to an officer for non-emergency questions.

Vail Transit services and the Vail Welcome Centers will operate uninterrupted through the holiday. Town services are also available online at www.vail.gov. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Residents are reminded that the Labor Day holiday may mean some schedule adjustments for local trash haulers. Town of Vail wildlife protection regulations prohibit trash from being left at the curb other than on the day of collection. Learn more at www.vail.gov/wildlife-protection.

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

K9 Goldie Earns National Certification!

The ATF hosted National Odor Recognition Testing this week in Loveland. Detective Genno and K9 Goldie successfully completed testing, earning recognition as a certified Explosive Detection Team.

With fewer than 600 certified Explosive Detection Teams in the country, this accomplishment highlights the dedication, training, and hard work of both Detective Genno and Goldie.

Please join us in congratulating them on this outstanding achievement!

08/24/2026

Bear activity is surging in Eagle County!

Between July 1 and August 18, dispatch logged 290 bear calls, while Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) received 81 reports—47 involving property damage.
As bears prepare for hibernation, they are actively hunting for calories. Keep your home, pet, and family safe with these crucial steps:

Eliminate Home Attractants
*Secure Trash & Feed: Lock up all bins and food scraps to eliminate strong odors.
*Feed Pets Indoors: Never leave pet food outside; clean outdoor bowls immediately.
*Scrub Grills: Burn off grease after every use and store grills inside a garage or shed.
*Never Feed Bears: Intentionally or accidentally letting bears find food is illegal and causes them to lose their natural fear of humans.

Lock Down Your House
*Secure Ground & Upper Level Access: Keep all doors, garage doors, and windows locked—bears are expert climbers and can easily reach upper-story windows.

Know What to Do in an Encounter
*In the Wild: If you see a bear, do NOT run. Back away slowly. If it approaches, stand your ground, wave your arms, and yell loudly. If a black bear attacks, do NOT play dead—fight back.
*Inside Your Home: Leave the house immediately if safe to do so. Keep exit doors wide open, do not corner the bear, call 911, and wait outside until officers arrive.
Learn more about coexisting with wildlife at cpw.state.co.us/living-bears.
Photo is of a bear that has been spotted walking around Gypsum

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¡La actividad de los osos está aumentando en el condado de Eagle!

Entre el 1 de julio y el 18 de agosto, el servicio de emergencias registró 290 llamadas por avistamientos de osos, mientras que Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado (CPW) recibió 81 reportes, 47 de ellos relacionados con daños a la propiedad.

Mientras los osos se preparan para hibernar, buscan activamente alimento. Proteja su hogar, su mascota y su familia con estas medidas cruciales:

Elimine los elementos que atraen a los osos en su hogar
*Asegure la basura y la comida: Cierre con llave todos los contenedores y restos de comida para evitar olores fuertes.
*Alimente a sus mascotas dentro de casa: Nunca deje la comida de sus mascotas afuera; limpie los comederos exteriores inmediatamente.
*Limpie las parrillas: Queme la grasa después de cada uso y guarde las parrillas en un garaje o cobertizo.
*Nunca alimente a los osos: Permitir intencionalmente o accidentalmente que los osos encuentren comida es ilegal y hace que pierdan su miedo natural a los humanos.

Asegure su casa
*Asegure el acceso a la planta baja y a los pisos superiores: Mantenga todas las puertas, las puertas del garaje y las ventanas cerradas con llave; los osos son expertos escaladores y pueden alcanzar fácilmente las ventanas de los pisos superiores.

Sepa qué hacer en caso de un encuentro con un oso.
*En la naturaleza: Si ve un oso, NO corra. Retroceda lentamente. Si se acerca, manténgase firme, agite los brazos y grite con fuerza. Si un oso negro ataca, NO se haga el mu**to; defiéndase.
*Dentro de su casa: Salga de la casa inmediatamente si es seguro hacerlo. Mantenga las puertas de salida abiertas de par en par, no acorrale al oso, llame al 911 y espere afuera hasta que lleguen los agentes.

Obtenga más información sobre cómo convivir con la vida silvestre en cpw.state.co.us/living-bears.

La foto muestra un oso que ha sido visto caminando por Gypsum.

08/21/2026

Back-to-school season is here!

Our two School Resource Officers, SRO Kullman at Vail Mountain School and SRO Schwartz at Red Sandstone Elementary, are back and ready for another great school year!

While they may be brushing up on their art, gym, and math skills, our SROs are focused on what matters most: keeping schools safe and building connections with students, staff, and families.

Here are a few reminders with school being back in session:

School buses are back on the road! If a school bus has flashing lights and its stop sign extended, traffic in both directions must come to a complete stop. Passing a stopped school bus is against the law.

Slow down in school zones. Follow posted speed limits, watch for students in crosswalks, and stay alert for increased pedestrian activity.

Put the phone away. Distracted driving is dangerous driving. Even a moment of distraction can have serious consequences. Safety is our top priority.

If you see our SROs, wave, say hey, or strike a conversation! Have a great school year!

08/20/2026

Be Bear Aware Vail!

Bears are out and about in Vail, and they’re getting extra curious as they prepare for winter. Since January 1, we’ve had 132 bear sightings in residential and public areas, including 43 sightings involving bears getting a little too interested in what smells good in our trash cans.

Keeping our community and our furry neighbors safe is something we can all do together. Help prevent bear encounters by securing your trash cans, dumpsters, vehicles, doors, windows, and garages. You may think you could never have a bear wander into your home or vehicle… until you find one checking out your fridge or taking a seat in the passenger seat.

A few other reminders:
• Bring in bird feeders when bears are active.
• Keep pet food indoors and out of reach.
• Clean and secure outdoor grills.
• Never feed or approach a bear.

Let's work together to keep Vail bear aware!

08/17/2026

On Aug. 14, Members of VPD joined Vail Valley Salvation Army's 18th Annual Empty Bowls Lunch! This event is an annual community tradition that brings people together to help ensure no one goes hungry.

100% of every ticket purchased directly benefits The Salvation Army Vail Valley Food Pantry!

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Photos 2 & 3 credited to the Eagle County Sheriff's Office.