FAIRFIELD — Fairfield’s emergency communications center for fire, medical and police services is conveniently located in the basement of the police department.
It also just happens that it’s in a flood zone. And since it dates back to 1990, equipment is nearing the end of its lifetime.
A plan to relocate to Sacred Heart University — in the former General Electric building — would see Fairfield and Westport combine to run a joint dispatch center, expected to be up and running by Jan. 1 of next year.
Fairfield Fire Department Chief Denis McCarthy described the effort as “good strategic sense” and a two-town force would help “people in the field get faster backup.”
“This is something we should have done a long time ago,” Westport Police Department Chief Foti Koskinas said. Westport currently has two dispatch centers: one at police headquarters for police and Emergency Medical Service calls and another at the fire department for fire related calls.
Fairfield Deputy Chief Donald Smith said savings would be in the long-term, particularly in the purchase and replacement of equipment.
