NEWS

Dispatchers worry about jobs; city looks at savings

Kent Mallett
Reporter
  • Mayor Jeff Hall said the city is looking into moving police dispatching to the county to save money.
  • Officer coordinator Dave Arndt, dispatchers said move would decrease safety for officers, citizens.

NEWARK – The city administration said it’s looking at saving money, police dispatchers worry they could lose their jobs and an officer said changes could decrease safety.

Newark police personnel, including dispatchers, union representatives, Licking County emergency officials, and other interested individuals packed council chambers to hear presentations on dispatching systems in the city and county.

City Council’s Service Committee heard about the capabilities of the county’s new 911 Center from Sean Grady, director of the Licking County Emergency Management Agency, and Col. Chad Dennis, of the Licking County Sheriff’s Office.

Mayor Jeff Hall said the city is investigating the possibility of moving its dispatchers to the county facility.

“We do believe there is a savings and it’s worth talking about,” Mayor Jeff Hall said. “It’s just open dialogue. I think people are assuming things.

“The county has a state-of-the-art facility. As the administration of the city, we are obligated to do our due diligence to investigate it.”

Dave Arndt, officer coordinator with the Newark Division of Police, involved in a Dec. 5 police shooting of an armed man on Postal Avenue, said dispatchers are key to officer safety.

“They have call-takers and dispatchers (at 911 Center),” Arndt said. “We have one person. It’s basically a police officer taking a call. If we were with the county system (Dec. 5), would I have gotten the info to keep us all safe? I don’t think so.

“If we’re going to outsource that job to the county, are we going to get the same service when we dump a quarter million more calls to that center? Are citizens going to be as safe? Those are the questions we have.”

Dispatcher Jackie Traub said Arndt’s comments were “awesome” and there is no substitute for the relationship between officers and dispatchers.

“We know them, we work with them, we can tell by their voice,” Traub said. “We just know. It’s more than working with someone. It’s working with family. It’s more personal.”

Dispatcher Jennifer Bumpus said the committee heard from people who don’t know the dispatchers’ jobs.

“People were saying things they know nothing about,” Bumpus said. “They have no idea how we function because they never got our input.”

A union leader said moving the dispatchers would leave the police department without a 24-hour presence.

The mayor said savings from the move would be used to upgrade technology in the police department.

Interim Police Chief Barry Connell said the department needs updated technology for the 25 patrol cars. The estimated cost of $3,000 to $5,000 per vehicle puts the total price-tag at $75,000 to $125,000.

Dispatchers are making an incorrect assumption, Hall said, that they would lose their jobs.

“I think there would be some openings created (at 911 Center),” Hall said.

kmallett@newark

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