Alamogordo Names Hilton Chapman Communications Manager as City Brings Dispatch Back Home

The City of Alamogordo has appointed Hilton Chapman as Communications Manager to lead the city’s return of police and fire dispatch to an in‑house operation, a move city leaders say restores local control, raises training and performance standards, and improves emergency response reliability for residents. Chapman, a 15‑year U.S. Air Force veteran who first honed his dispatch skills in the military and later served as Deputy Director of the Tularosa Basin Regional Dispatch Authority, combines frontline experience with regional operational leadership — precisely the background city officials sought to stand up a modern, accountable Communication Center.

Why Chapman was chosen and why now

City officials framed Chapman’s hire as both strategic and timely. After months of operational reviews and public safety briefings that highlighted training gaps, intermittent communication breakdowns, and rising costs under the regional arrangement, the City Commission voted to withdraw from the joint dispatch authority and rebuild a local Public Safety Answering Point. Chapman was selected because he understands the technical, personnel, and interagency challenges of modern dispatch: military discipline and standards, hands‑on supervisory experience at the regional authority, and five years living and serving in the Alamogordo community make him uniquely positioned to lead the transition quickly and professionally.

What residents can expect

Faster, clearer 911 handling with standardized training for dispatch staff.

Tighter coordination between Alamogordo Police, Fire Department, and EMS through locally controlled protocols and interoperable technology.

Improved transparency and accountability with city oversight of performance metrics, response audits, and staffing.

A phased reopening of the Communication Center at APD headquarters with advance public notices about service testing and any short, planned transitions.

Chapman framed the mission simply: “When you call 911, you deserve the best — and that’s what we’re going to deliver.

City leaders describe the appointment as a citizen‑first decision intended to deliver measurable improvements in call handling time, dispatcher training, and on‑the‑ground response outcomes.

The operational plan and timeline

The city expects the rebuild to proceed in months , with initial capital outlays for equipment and space refurbishment followed by a concentrated hiring and training sprint. Chapman will prioritize certified dispatcher recruitment, a standardized academy‑style training program, updated CAD and radio interoperability, and clear escalation procedures so first responders get the right information on the first call.

An upbeat civic moment

Residents and first responders see the move as a positive reset — a chance to restore trust where operational lapses had raised concern and to institutionalize improvement through local leadership. Chapman’s combination of military service, regional dispatch management, and local ties gives the community reason to expect a professional, accountable Communications Center that treats every 911 call with urgency and competence.

Please join city officials and AlamogordoTownNews.org in welcoming Hilton Chapman as he leads Alamogordo’s next chapter in public‑safety communications and the return of dispatch as a city function.

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