Belleville, MI Central Dispatch To Be Eliminated

[MetalManMI]

Belleville, MI city council votes to eliminate Central Dispatch and instead contract police and fire dispatch services with surrounding Van Buren Township. This move potentially leaves Sumpter Township without dispatch services since they shared the costs of Central Dispatch 50/50. Belleville has repeatedly asked Sumpter to agree to a higher split of the costs since Sumpter has a higher population, more land area and continues to grow while Belleville has grown nearly to its maximum potential. Sumpter argued that the 50/50 split was fair based on the actual volume of calls and runs.

http://bellevilleview.com/stories/08...50825002.shtml

This is shocking since residents rallied and made their desire to keep Central Dispatch known several months ago when this was proposed. Several yard signs appeared throughout the community reading "D3---Don't Dump Dispatch". As indicated in the above linked article, residents were led to believe that the special meeting was to establish ballot language for the November ballot, leaving the decision fully in the hands of the residents/voters. However, when they arrived and the meeting started, they found out that their council was actually preparing to vote on a proposal from Van Buren Township rather than allowing the voters to decide. The council voted 3-2 to proceed with this proposal. Economically, the change means a significant savings for the city, at the expense of losing their 24/7 police station operation and lock-up.

Extending this proposal to Sumpter Township would not likely be feasible since Van Buren Township's radio system probably wouldn't be capable of reliably servicing all of Sumpter Twp which is directly south of Van Buren's border. Belleville is fully within the boundaries of Van Buren Township, so no modifications to Van Buren's radio system will be necessary to service the City of Belleville.

I suspect this isn't over yet since the contract hasn't been signed!

[RyltnVFD]

I don't see why there isn't more counties that just use one main, county-wide dispatch for all townships and areas, for fire and police. Then have a seperate ambulance company not connected to any fire depts.

[seamusg]

Originally Posted by RyltnVFD

I don't see why there isn't more counties that just use one main, county-wide dispatch for all townships and areas, for fire and police. Then have a seperate ambulance company not connected to any fire depts.

I don't see where one man county dispatch is involved.

[RyltnVFD]

Originally Posted by seamusg

I don't see where one man county dispatch is involved.

I was just pointing out an observation. The subject of a township losing a dispatch and causing an uproar made me think about it. I don't see why my post is a problem, I was just stating an observation.

[seamusg]

Originally Posted by RyltnVFD

I was just pointing out an observation. The subject of a township losing a dispatch and causing an uproar made me think about it. I don't see why my post is a problem, I was just stating an observation.

I don't see where a township is a county.

[RyltnVFD]

There's multiple townships in a county. Why should all these townships have their own dispatch centers when there can just be one centralized county dispatch that can coordinate everything and make it simpler. That way neighboring jurisdictions don't have to contact each other's dispatch in the event of a multi-jurisdictional event, as the county dispatch already knows what's going on everywhere, and all the units can use the same channel.

I don't quite think you understand what I mean when I'm referring to county dispatch. I'm talking about the county dispatch doing the dispatch for county units, state police in the county, and all the township units. I can understand the logic of having larger cities having their own dispatch and 911 systems, but not individual townships.

What is the approximate population for the township the topic starter is referring to, and what is the total population for the county which the township is in? I can see where this wouldn't work for townships with a very large population or a very high crime rate.

[seamusg]

Bellville is in Wayne County -- if you had one dispatch it would include Detroit -- I think that is a lot more than ONE dispatcher.

[RyltnVFD]

Originally Posted by seamusg

Bellville is in Wayne County -- if you had one dispatch it would include Detroit -- I think that is a lot more than ONE dispatcher.

Wayne county- that explains it. I'm used to having a county with less than 100,000 people. And I wasn't meaning only one person in dispatch, we have four regular dispatch, and two LEIN.

Wasn't trying to turn this into a pissing match, just voicing a possible solution. But as I said, my solution definitely wouldn't work for areas with large populations. We had a nice little dialogue, though!

[seamusg]

Actually Belleville is a small comunity having the same trouble as a lot of others. A while back Mt. Clemens jobed their dispatch out to the county- now after 113 years no police department. Small comunities want to keep it that way (small). I live in a very small city (2 mile by 2mile city), in Macomb Co. That does not reconize it's proximity to Detroit.

[RyltnVFD]

So far, none of the departments in my area have had the problem you mention. Hopefully they never will. But the one countywide dispatch center works great for us.

Hope there's no hard feelings!

[MetalManMI]

The population of the City of Belleville is approximately 4,000.
The population of Sumpter Twp. is approximately 12,000.
The population of Van Buren Twp. is approximately 24,000.

All three are in Wayne County. Sumpter Twp. is the far South-West corner of Wayne County (largely undeveloped country land).

Emmet County is a good example of a county-wide dispatch. In fact, their "central dispatch" also dispatches for Cheboygan county, as well. When I'm up there on vacation, it is easy to listen to what's going on in both counties with just a couple of frequencies. Emmet County's popuation is approx. 33,000. Cheboygan's is 27,000...easy to understand how a single county-wide dispatch can handle both counties compared to Wayne County's population of 2,029,000!

[RyltnVFD]

Yeah, with populations like that, I can see the need for individual dispatches. Berrien county is considerably smaller (people wise) as compared to Wayne county. Thank you for the population figures, too!

[garryd451]

Originally Posted by RyltnVFD

Wayne county- that explains it. I'm used to having a county with less than 100,000 people. And I wasn't meaning only one person in dispatch, we have four regular dispatch, and two LEIN.

Wasn't trying to turn this into a pissing match, just voicing a possible solution. But as I said, my solution definitely wouldn't work for areas with large populations. We had a nice little dialogue, though!

You also have 2 dispatch centers in Niles besides the one You mentioned, in St. Joseph.

1. MSP Post 53, located in the Niles Law Enforcement center. They dispatch MSP post 53 cars, yes, this is a sperated operation from the 911 center located in the same location. This Dispatch by MSP civil dispatcher, with a MSP Sargent manning each shift.

2. The Berrien County Niles 911 Dispatch center, is manned by two Niles City Dispatchers per shift and is runned by the Niles City Police Department. They dispatch the Niles City police, the Niles Township Police, the Niles City Fire Department and the Nils Township Fire Department. They are also the back-up 911 Center for the St. Joseph 911 Center.

Alot of people think this center is one combine dispatch, but it is not, I been there 4 times, the MSP dispatch is located on the East side of the oval Office, the 911 Center is on the West side of the Oval.

In fact, I thought it was one center until I had to go their one night to get my brother In-law out of trouble, yes, the things we do, to keep our wife happy!

[seamusg]

Niles is just north of the Gold Dome. A long way from Wayne Co,

[seamusg]

Originally Posted by MetalManMI

The population of the City of Belleville is approximately 4,000.
The population of Sumpter Twp. is approximately 12,000.
The population of Van Buren Twp. is approximately 24,000.

All three are in Wayne County. Sumpter Twp. is the far South-West corner of Wayne County (largely undeveloped country land).

Emmet County is a good example of a county-wide dispatch. In fact, their "central dispatch" also dispatches for Cheboygan county, as well. When I'm up there on vacation, it is easy to listen to what's going on in both counties with just a couple of frequencies. Emmet County's popuation is approx. 33,000. Cheboygan's is 27,000...easy to understand how a single county-wide dispatch can handle both counties compared to Wayne County's population of 2,029,000!

exactly why I posted

[RyltnVFD]

Garry-

Just remember, we gave you guys 11ECOM!

I actually always considered Niles to be kinda on their own. Just curious, how far do the 53 cars patrol? Do they pretty much stay near US12? That's where I hear them most on Com south and north. I never really listen to Com East/Niles city that much.

[johnvassel]

Unless things have changed in belleville over the last few years, they were pretty much at capacity when it came to size of a dispatch center. Any improvements to adjust to the growing population of sumpter would have been major undertakings, I'm not sure they have the space without moving, even if they had the money to improve.
Van Buren had/has (it's been a few years since I've visited) a newer facility, and more room to expand.
You'll probably end up with all the same dispatch personnel, and the 'effect' will be nil.

john

[MetalManMI]

No, Belleville's (CDN) dispatch center (room) is still the same, jam-packed tiny little area with dispatchers bumping chairs, elbows, etc. There was talk of revamping the entire City Hall/Police Department building several months ago, but those plans fell by the wayside...they ended-up just building a wheel chair ramp up to the front door making the first level of the facility a little more handicap accessible...

As far as Van Buren hiring all of the same personnel from CDN, they've said that they only plan on hiring ONE additional dispatcher if they take-on Belleville's dispatching. They are not obligated to hire any of CDN's dispatchers. CDN's workforce has been downsizing due to attrition, but there are two or three green dispatchers still in training...honestly, it seems like one dispatcher in particular is on the air nearly 24/7!

[garryd451]

Originally Posted by RyltnVFD

Garry-

Just remember, we gave you guys 11ECOM!

I actually always considered Niles to be kinda on their own. Just curious, how far do the 53 cars patrol? Do they pretty much stay near US12? That's where I hear them most on Com south and north. I never really listen to Com East/Niles city that much.

You're right the only time Berrien County and the State of Michigan remembers Niles is when they collect taxes from us.

In the last 40 years, the only things Berrien County has given us is money to run the 911 center and the Berrien County South County Court Complex. And the State hasn't given us much more than that. The Standing joke around here is: The State of Michigan collects our taxes to send to Detroit, the rest of the year, The State of Michigan thinks We are part of Indiana!

I think the boundries and/or Areas that Post 53 covers are Galien as the West boundry,
half way between Edwardsburg and Union as the East Boundry, the Indiana State Line as the South Boundry and the North Boundry cities and/or towns are Berrien Center, Eau Claire and Dowagaic.

As far as the South Boundry, there is a little restaurant on M-51, just inside Michigan, right on the Michigan-Indiana Line. I see a lot of Indiana State Police and St. Joseph County Indiana Sheriff Cars parked there, but never a Michigan State Police car.

As far as You hearing the Post 53 cars mostly on U.S12? I don't know why, maybe you're not listening to the sumnerville tower. I know that they patroal the following highways alot, old U.S. 31, U.S. 31 Byp**** M-60 and both M-51 North and South. Some people call M-51 South, one of the following: 11th Street, others call it the old U.S.31 and some call it M-51 South!

[RyltnVFD]

Yeah, I don't listen to Sumnerville too often. i can't really pick it up well. I normally tune in to Coloma/site 305.