By Judy Peterson, San Jose Mercury News

San Jose, California:

Los Gatos and Campbell are exploring the idea of consolidating their 911 emergency dispatch centers, with plans in the works to hire a consultant who would help determine if consolidation is feasible. The consultant’s report would be due early next year, with a final decision made after that.

“Shortly after the first of the year, we’ll have the report that will identify costs, opportunities and challenges, along with cost savings,” Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman said.

Campbell Police Chief Greg Finch said cost savings are a priority. “If the economy weren’t an issue I’d probably say, ‘Stay with my own dispatch center.’ But we’re trying to exercise good governance,” Finch said. “If there’s no savings I won’t want to do it.”

Campbell has eight full-time and one part-time dispatchers, while Los Gatos-Monte Sereno has seven full-time and one part-time dispatchers.

A few dispatchers have already cross-trained and are able to work at either center when there are staff shortages because of vacations or sickness. “I feel comfortable that both departments have a pretty consistent view of treating people fairly,” Finch said. “We work well with Los Gatos.”

One issue that needs to be explored is equipment. Los Gatos is in the process of upgrading its dispatch equipment, while Campbell’s equipment is three to four years away from being upgraded. And the equipment the departments use is different. “Not having systems that talk to each other would make it difficult. Simplistically, you’d say put them in the same room and let them work together,” Finch said.

Seaman agrees. “One way to think about it is who has the facilities and space within existing buildings,” Seaman said. “We have space for two positions and Campbell has space for three positions.”

Logisitics aside, cost sharing may be difficult to gauge since the number of 911 calls handled by the communities differs widely. “We have double the calls for service,” Finch said. “We handle the highest number of calls per officer in the county.”

Finch said Campbell averages 408 calls per year, per officer. The county-wide average is 300.

Last year, approximately 16,000 emergency calls were made in Campbell, while Los Gatos handled about 8,900.

The consolidation talks were already under way when the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury issued a report in June, “Can You Hear Me Now,” that recommended all municipalities in the county consider consolidating their dispatch centers with neighboring cities.

The grand jury also suggested that since radio equipment is not standardized, county-wide communication and dispatch is impeded. That question is being addressed by the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority, a working group that is chaired by Seaman.

The bottom line, both chiefs say, is ensuring public safety. “I think the most significant point is we need to be thoughtful and deliberate,” Seaman said.

“The dispatchers are the first contact a victim has with the police department,” Finch said, “so we’d have to see what we’d gain from consolidation.” He called the possibility of consolidation a new reality given the economic times.

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