By Greg Welter, Chico Enterprise-Record

Chico, Calif. — Police said they met their deadline this week to complete a $175,000 relocation of their emergency 9-1-1 dispatch center to a former police station classroom.

The new setting offers about twice as much space and natural lighting from windows big advantages over the former dispatch center, a dark, cramped space in the middle of the building on Humboldt Road that some referred to as “the bunker.”

Dispatch supervisor Nancy Wilson said the move went pretty much as planned. “There were a few glitches, like an intercom bell between the front lobby phone and dispatch not working, but I see the move as a success,” Wilson said.

Officials said the new center is designed to be easily expandable, as needs dictate, and will be easier for technicians to service, with all wiring run through panels and electrical connections clearly marked.

Remodeling of the former police classroom began several months ago. By late last week, all of the desks, counters and walls had been installed, but computers, radios and other equipment remained in the old center.

On Monday and Tuesday, police dispatchers were temporarily moved to a training room in the building. Fire department dispatchers temporarily set up shop at Cal Fire-Butte County headquarters in Oroville. By mid-morning Wednesday, the transition was complete. Still to come is an enclosed patio where dispatchers can take a break but still be close to their work stations.

When asked about the biggest advantage to being in their new space, dispatcher Tovi Brown simply said, “Room.”

Sometime in June, Wilson said, the department is due to get a 9-1-1 dispatch upgrade to a system called VIPER.

Among other advantages, it will allow dispatchers to continue working from remote locations if the Chico center should go down in an emergency. Other departments in Butte County are already using the system.   

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