Emergency Dispatch services will not change - for now

WINSTED — In the face of some criticism, the Winchester Board of Selectmen took no action Monday, Oct. 19, regarding the structure of the town’s emergency dispatch service, allowing it to remain under the control of the Winchester Police Department.

The decision effectively tabled the dispatch issue for consideration by a new board, which will come into power after the upcoming Nov. 3 municipal elections.

In the meantime, Town Manager Keith Robbins said, representatives from police, fire and ambulance services should continue meeting regarding their concerns about local dispatch services and should ultimately become a formal committee.

“We’ve created this committee to funnel the concerns from both sides, from the [emergency] services and the dispatchers,� Robbins said. “To date, we’ve had some productive discussions; however, it comes down to a ‘who’s in charge’ thing. In my opinion, we cannot afford and we do not need to recreate the command structure.�

Robbins said in his written recommendation to the board that a regional dispatch service will ultimately be necessary to save money for the town, but that now is not the time to make the change.

Winsted Fire Chief Robert Shopey said he agreed that the committee of service chiefs should continue to meet, but he was unhappy with Robbins’ recommendation that the town continue operating under its current dispatch system.

“We do not agree with leaving the authority and the oversight with the police department,� Shopey said. “Leaving it the way it is is not acceptable.�

The chief said additional dispatchers need to be hired and that the fire department needs more control over the dispatching of its own first responders. Shopey has repeatedly said dispatchers should not be entirely under the control of the police department.

Selectman David Cappabianca
said town budget problems are at the root of the issue.

“The whole issue has really nothing to do with performance or individual personalities,� he said. “As far as we’re concerned, everybody’s doing a good job given the resources that we give them to work with. The problem is we don’t give them enough to do the job that needs to be done.�

Selectmen heard a proposal in August from the privately owned Litchfield County Dispatch regarding switching to a contracted service with the organization. Some said the move could save $100,000 per year, but there was strong disagreement from Police Chief Nicholas Guerriero. Guerriero identified several budgetary and personnel-related issues,
including the fact that Litchfield County Dispatch employees would need to be cross-trained and cross-supervised by the Winsted Police Department.

Guerriero noted during a presentation last month that moving to regional dispatch would also mean the elimination of local jobs and the darkening of a downtown lobby where residents are able to seek assistance in person at all hours.

“There is no town in the state of Connecticut that treats its citizens this way,� he said.

Robbins said he hoped to get the chiefs and dispatchers together for another meeting this week and that he hopes a committee can be formalized as soon as possible.