Deputy Director of Operations
Aurora911
Aurora, Colorado
Sarah Franz, MBA, ENP, RPL, CMCP currently serves as the Deputy Director for Aurora911 in Aurora, Colorado. Since joining the team in October 2021, she has played a key role in advancing culture change initiatives and strengthening operational effectiveness.
Sarah began her public safety career in 2013 as a dispatcher with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. Within three years, she was promoted to supervisor and became a critical contributor to a major consolidation project that unified 30 police, fire, and EMS agencies. Her leadership throughout that transition emphasized the importance of aligning people, policy, and technology.
With over a decade of instructional experience in Crisis Intervention, Sarah has taught de-escalation techniques and communication strategies across the state of Colorado. She brings both operational expertise and a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological dynamics involved in high-risk calls. As a member of NENA’s 911/988 Working Group and APCO’s Young Professionals Committee, she is passionate about improving outcomes for both callers and responders.
In this session, Sarah brings her real-world experience to the forefront, using a compelling case study to explore the effectiveness—and fragility—of crisis negotiation efforts within emergency communications.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Hostage or Hoax? An audio case study
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM