Consolidation Issues Being Debated Nationwide

The pressures to consolidate public safety communications center have been felt nationwide for several years, but since 2008 even more jurisdictions have been forced by budget deficits to consider giving up their center. This week a long list of city and counties have made decisions on consolidation, including “Yes” and “No.” In Dane County (Wisc.) a study panel has concluded that merging 911 and emergency management would compromise the current level of service, and result in only $30,000 a year in savings. However, local newspaper editorial says the panel should revisit the issue. Riverside County (S. Calif.) supervisors have approved a study of integrating sheriff’s, fire and EMS communications, which are now handled by separate centers. In Illinois, the Olney city council discussed a city-county communications merger at their Monday meeting, learning that it’s not supported by police officers. Some residents wondered if the sheriff wants to take over county-wide law enforcement duties. In Connecticut the state is moving forward with a plan to move two state police comm centers to a third, part of a state-wide consolidation trend for the state police. Lastly, Gulfport (Fla.) communications officer LaKeisha Issac was nearly in tears while telling the city council that the comm center is an irreplaceable and invaluable asset. She recalled a 3 year-old girl coming to the front counter to report her mother had been assaulted. “I held her hand and kept her calm,” Issac told the council. The center’s employees have 55 years of combined experience. The city is considering outsourcing dispatching to save money.