Thursday, July 15, 2010 • HERITAGE NEWSPAPERS/WESTERN REGION Page 5-A

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Washtenaw Metro Dispatch now openThe Washtenaw County

Central Dispatch has moved from its former location in the lower level of the sheriff ’s office to work side-by-side with Ann Arbor Police Department dispatch at its expanded facil-ity on the second floor of the main fire station across from City Hall.

The move culminates nearly a year of work by the two agen-cies to plan the effort, expand the facility and upgrade the equipment.

July 8 marked the official opening of the Washtenaw Metro Dispatch. Sheriff and administrators, along with city and county dignitaries, gath-ered to tour the new facility and recognize the employees who made it possible.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff ’s Office provides dis-patch service for the Michigan State Police and Northfield Township.

In addition, the Ypsilanti Police Department began con-tracting with the Washtenaw County Sheriff ’s Office for dispatch services last March. Former Ypsilanti dispatchers were hired by the sheriff as part of an effort to ensure a seamless transition.

Washtenaw County has seen many efforts to create a central dispatch, but none of those efforts became a reality until now. Although a few smaller jurisdictions will continue to operate their own dispatch centers, Washtenaw Metro Dispatch will unify all major police services communica-tions in the county.

“This has been discussed many times over the years and for a variety of reasons was not implemented,” Sheriff Jerry Clayton said.

“A number of factors make it clear that now is the right time to do what should have been done before. We have a respon-sibility to our service commu-nities, we have leadership with vision, and, finally, we have the opportunity to improve service and efficiency in these difficult economic times.”

City and county officials said the implementation of the Michigan State Police 800 MHz

digital radio system provides a common technology platform that enables agency interoper-ability and integration of dis-patching functions.

Ann Arbor Police Chief Barnett Jones said he is enthu-siastic about the joint effort.

“Co-locating our communica-tions functions allows us to bet-ter coordinate resources when

it is most needed. We are taking advantage of the new technol-ogy and cooperating to better serve our citizens.”

The Washtenaw Metro Dispatch represents a unique operating structure. In other jurisdictions in Michigan where countywide central dis-patch has been implemented, it has been accomplished by creating a separate authority with its own administrative structure and facilities. This has proved to be highly com-plex, expensive and politically-charged.

At Washtenaw Metro Dispatch, Ann Arbor and sher-iff ’s office employees remain with their current employers and will have a formal supervi-sor reporting relationship with someone from their own agen-cy. Dispatchers will continue to be dedicated to either Ann Arbor or the sheriff ’s office.

But during any given shift, operating authority may be held by a person from either agency. Employees may take work direction from someone who is not their formal super-visor.

The co-located dispatch function will operate from a single telephone switch. Calls for service are prioritized on screens that are managed by dispatchers.

Call-takers will answer all calls irrespective of the responding agency, and both agencies will operate from a common set of operating pro-cedures.

“Our approach was the result of unprecedented trust and cooperation between area law enforcement,” Clayton said.

“We looked for a path with

the fewest political and admin-istrative hurdles. With budgets so tight, we had to find a better way.”

Jones praised the work of everyone involved.

“This is a huge change, and with change comes a great deal of fear and uncertainty. I am so proud of everyone involved. Everyone, from the command staff planning this effort to the communications staff making

it happen on a daily basis, has done an outstanding job.”

To make room for the sheriff ’s dispatch operation, the city’s dispatch room was expanded into what had been the emergency operations center. Ann Arbor’s emergency operations administrative office is currently located at the sheriff ’s office, and they, too, take advantage of enhanced city-county cooperation.

The communications equip-ment at the former Washtenaw County Central Dispatch facil-ity will be upgraded to the new State of Michigan digital radio system. The former Washtenaw County Central Dispatch facility will be maintained as a backup to the Washtenaw Metro Dispatch facility.

The facilities and equipment upgrades are funded through the 800 MHz Public Safety Communications millage. The co-located dispatch reduces the number of dispatch consoles required by two that would have been required if each police communications center had been upgraded separately. Each console costs approxi-mately $135,000.

Officials added that operat-ing efficiencies are expected to yield ongoing cost savings as well.

“Co-locating our communications functions allows us to better coordinate resources when it is most needed. We are taking advantage of the new technology and

cooperating to better serve our citizens.”- ANN ARBOR POLICE CHIEF BARNETT JONES

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