Joint dispatch center demonstrates its value in first week operating

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By: Marilyn Miller 

Beacon Journal staff writer  for the Akron Beacon Journal

The new joint dispatch center serving Copley Township and the city of Norton is being credited with saving a life this week, providing evidence that combining police and fire calls not only will save money, but also improve services, officials said.

The two communities called a news conference Thursday afternoon to announce this week's launch of the new center. 

The center is staffed with a minimum of three dispatchers.  Prior to this week, each community had at most two dispatchers on duty to handle all calls.  On Monday, the joint dispatch center was put to its first test when a 911 call came in for a Copley resident that wasn't breathing.

Copley Fire Chief Michael Benson explained that while one dispatcher stayed on the line giving instructions for CPR, another dispatcher was able to send out medical emergency vehicles, and the third dispatcher was fielding all other calls. "There were crashes all over town that day, but we had enough personnel to handle everything," Benson said.  "They didn't miss a beat.  The units got there in time... [and] there was no brain damage."

Giving a dispatcher more time to handle emergency calls is the key.  "The beauty of this is that the new system worked efficiently and effectively," said Norton City Administrator Rick Ryland.  "Regardless of the location of the incident, we would follow the same procedure."

The joint dispatching center is expected to save hundreds of thousands of dollars on duplicate equipment and annual operating expenses.  The center, at the Copley Township police station, will share equipment, a facility and staff.  Employees in the dispatch center remain on their community's payroll.  There will be no change in benefits, compensation or collective-bargaining agreements.

The Copley site is being used for the initial program.  Startup costs estimated at $32,000, shared by both communities, were used to upgrade the current system.  An additional dispatch station was added, and changes in technology were made to accommodate the move outside of Norton.  The pilot program, on trial for a year, took seven months of planning.  If it succeeds, a permanent location will be determined.  Some officials said the idea was tried several years ago, but the timing wasn't right.

The door is open for other communities to jump on board, they said.  "We welcome new communities to join us," said Copley Township Administrator Peggy Spraggins. "We are hoping that the joint dispatch center moves from a pilot program to a permanent program."

Members of both communities said a greater cooperation in the region is needed.  "Regionalism is the buzz word throughout the state," said Helen Humphreys, a Copley trustee.  "Communities don't have to lose their identity.  Regionalism brings people together.  So if you can work together, you can save some money."

This system was implemented by Sundance Systems Inc. through their Regional Dispatch Program.