City Council Wants to Move Toward 911 Dispatch Merger

It looks like New Port Richey City Council members like the sound of an idea that would put an end to city-run 911 dispatch services.

The majority of council members made it clear during a workshop session with representatives from the Pasco County government and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Tuesday that they want to move toward merging the city’s dispatch services with the county’s.

The merger could cost New Port Richey $36,166 in its first year, but the city could realize $90,283 annually in cost savings each subsequent year.

The city would lose its ability to perform independent dispatch services under the merger. Pasco would offer the police department’s full-time staff jobs with no loss of salary or seniority. Jody Kenyon, Pasco's emergency 911 operations manager, said the county would also offer spots for part-time dispatchers.

Merged dispatch could result in several improvements. The list of possible improvements includes:

• One call taker handling the dispatch for multiple agencies
• Improved response times and fewer dropped calls  
• Improved safety for police, fire and emergency rescue responders. 
• New or improved technology and as well as information sharing among agencies.

Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips led the charge in saying he would like to move toward moving forward with a merger.

“I just think the overall public benefit leads us to this next step,” he said.

The New Port Richey Police Department has provided 911 and non-emergency dispatch services to the city since the agency’s establishment, according to a city memo. The agency handles dispatch for police, fire rescue, public works and code enforcement. The police department also foots the cost of the service through its department budget. It employs four full-time and eight part-time dispatchers.

Interim Police Chief Kim Bogart said he was “absolutely” in support of the dispatch merger. He told the council the city’s current dispatch system is “as antiquated a system as I have ever seen.”

“For me, making this transition is incredibly important,” he told the council.

He does have some concerns that he would like to be addressed along the way toward the merger. Dispatchers at the department perform other support services, too. Data mining was one example Bogart mentioned.

If the city loses its dispatchers, it will lose these extra services. Bogart wants to find a way to fill the void and asked the council to help him find a solution.

Earlier this year, Pasco County Commissioners approved a plan to merge the emergency dispatch services for the sheriff’s office and Pasco County Fire Rescue into one call center. That call center is set to become a reality Oct. 1.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco had been an advocate of the merger. All of Pasco’s cities have been invited to merge with the county.

Right now, a Pasco County Fire Rescue dispatcher already answers all 911 calls made by a cell phone or wireless device, including those made in the city limits, and then routes them to the city police department.

Calls made from a landline are currently answered directly by the police department dispatch service.

Mayor Bob Consalvo was in favor of moving on. He pointed out citizens would get faster response times and better service. He also pointed out “you can’t put a number on officer safety.”

Councilman Chopper Davis said it was a “no-brainer” that the city move toward the merger and join the county in time for the opening of its dispatch center

Councilman Jeff Starkey said he wanted to move forward so long as the city could fill the vacuum of services performed by the departing dispatchers.

Councilwoman Judy DeBella Thomas was the lone person not to clearly say she wanted to move toward with a merger. She expressed concerns about the city losing its autonomy. She said her main concern was officer safety and response time.

Bogart responded that the merger was about officer safety and improving services.

“My response times will only improve going in this direction,” he said.

What do you think? Should New Port Richey merge its 911 operations with the county?

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