image of barnstable county courthouse

Countywide dispatch plan could save millions

From The Cape Cod Times –

BARNSTABLE — Local officials were briefed Thursday on a regional emergency dispatch study that could save Cape towns millions of dollars.

The study, funded by a $135,000 state grant through the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee, investigated potential savings Capewide by using one consolidated dispatch center or with multiple regional centers.

The Cape currently has 13 public safety answering points — dispatch centers that take emergency 911 calls — serving 15 towns. The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Communications Office provides answering and/or fire dispatch services to 10 fire departments. Chronic municipal budget shortfalls and the impending implementation of mandatory medical training for dispatchers are driving the statewide move away from town dispatchers to regional dispatch centers.

Read the rest at CapeCodOnline.