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Thursday, February 09, 2006
County Considers Consolidating Emergency Dispatch Centers
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Atlantic County is seeking a grant award of $100,000 to study the feasibility of consolidating the county's public safety communication centers. There are currently 18 communications centers that respond to emergency calls and dispatch police, fire and medical personnel and equipment.
"We are a growing county that needs to continually look at ways to improve the coordination and efficiency of our services, none of which are more important than public safety," stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. "A feasibility study can independently determine the most viable option, whether it be regionalization, consolidation or co-location."
Exploring the idea of a centralized county dispatch system was first introduced by Levinson in 1994 when he served as freeholder chairman. A committee was formed and based upon its recommendations the county implemented a state-of-the art, 800 MHZ radio communications system to provide interoperability between municipalities and user agencies.
Since then the county's population has increased by more than 38,000 people and the public safety community has been working to enhance its emergency preparedness and response efforts following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
"Consolidation is nothing new, especially where effectiveness and efficiency are paramount," added Levinson. "The ability to share resources, equipment and technology is invaluable. Consolidation can bring about efficiencies that individual agencies could not achieve by themselves."
County officials believe a study could be completed within a year. The county is applying for funding through the New Jersey Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services.
For more information, please contact Howard J. Kyle, Chief of Staff, at (609) 343-2368.
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