UCPD Researches Dispatch Consolidation with Newark and Fremont

Consolidating police dispatch centers could save money while improving police and fire service in local cities. But local agencies don't know that for sure.

That’s why the Union City Police Department is joining with Fremont and Newark police, and the Fremont Fire Department, to determine if they should combine their dispatch centers.

Dispatch centers receive 9-1-1 calls and relay the emergency situations to police and fire stations.

“The three cities have been talking about this probably in the last couple years with the question of ‘would it be better?’” said Union City Police spokesperson Lt. Kelly Musgrove. “The energy behind it is twofold: The budget is always being looked at, and do we have redundant systems.”

To help figure out whether they should consolidate, the police and fire departments have selected Deltawrx Management Consultants to study whether the dispatch centers should be combined.

The study would cost an estimated $70,000. Since two of the four agencies involved are in Fremont, the City of Fremont would cover half the bill, leaving Newark and Union City each with a fourth of the cost, or $17,500.

Union City’s City Council voted to have its police department take part in the study during their June 28 meeting.

Musgrove said a consolidated dispatch could help in emergency situations along the city’s borders or when situations cross from one town to the next, such as a suspect on the run.

“Typically, our activities cross borders,” Musgrove said. “So there’s a lot of sharing of information.”

Dispatch operators in a consolidated center might be better situated to identify which police department would be the best one to contact for a given situation, Musgrove said.

But that is not known for certain, Musgrove said, which is why the agencies want to look into it.

Technology will likely factor into the decision to consolidate, Musgrove said. Since the cities use different dispatch systems, they would have to consider whether the cost of coordinating their systems would be worthwhile.

The study could show that a consolidated system will cost the cities more, Musgrove said. But that wouldn’t necessarily rule out a change if the consultants were to show that a consolidated system could provide better service.

“This is basically a giant ‘what if’ scenario,” Musgrove said.