Oxford Could Take Over Lake Orion Dispatch Services

Police dispatch services for Lake Orion could be handled by the village of Oxford if the two communities can reach an agreement, according to Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh.

Narsh said at the instruction of the Lake Orion Village Council, the department is looking to partner with a community for combined dispatch services, and Oxford is the best fit for the community. 

"Our dispatch centers are about three miles apart," Narsh said, noting each department's dispatch center has served as a backup for the other.

"As a result of that, almost everything about our dispatch operations are similar," Narsh said. "Our staff trained together in the past and the staff knows their neighboring communities."


Narsh said 85 percent of the village's 911 calls originated from Orion Township and partnering with Oxford will not significantly increase the volume of calls coming into one dispatch center.

Narsh said talks still are in the negotiations phase, but that he hopes an agreement that can be reached. The move comes after Orion Township decided in March to partner with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office for its fire dispatch services. Lake Orion previously had handled the township's fire calls, Narsh said, and will now face a $90,000 budget shortfall by no longer handling the township's calls. 

According to a report in the Oakland Press, Lake Orion proposed paying Oxford $20,000 for dispatch services on the condition Oxford would hire one of Lake Orion’s dispatchers to the tune of about $60,000 in salary and benefits, but Oxford council members last week decided to continue negotiations with hopes of an offer better than the $20,000 offered by Lake Orion. According to the Oakland Press, Oxford Village Manager Joe Young is seeking $80,000.

The report also indicated some Oxford council members felt the village should also contract with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office to save about $200,000 per year, and questioned whether a public vote could be held to determine who handles Oxford's 911 calls. Oxford's attorney is expected to have a response to council members' question about the public vote by the end of August, the Oakland Press indicated. 

Narsh remains optimistic a deal can be reached.

"It's a good fit and it will make good economic sense, as well," he said.