Geographic information systems (GIS) impact public safety with dynamic mapping that increases location accuracy, improves first responder arrival times, and enhances situational awareness. But to achieve the full potential of GIS, it is essential that the public safety community begins positioning and prioritizing GIS differently. Public safety professionals can no longer think of GIS as a secondary, reactionary tool. Moving forward, public safety agencies need to establish a GIS culture that views this technology as a mission-critical element of 9-1-1 emergency communications.