Downriver mutual-aid officials propose consolidated dispatch center; council raises staffing, prisoner and cost questions

Officials representing a Downriver mutual-aid dispatch effort told the Riverview City Council they plan to open a consolidated public-safety dispatch center in Wyandotte with 16 public-safety answering positions and hope to be operational by the end of the year. The group said the consolidation could bring more consistent radio and call-handling policies across participating communities and allow pooled staffing for major incidents, but council members raised questions about costs, who will answer local administrative calls, prisoners and contract terms.

The plan, explained by Bob Heck of Downriver mutual-aid and Bob Matthews, the 9‑1‑1 director for DME, calls for a roughly 3,500‑square‑foot facility near the Wyandotte police department with 16 PSAP positions. “We expect that we're going to be operational by the end of the year,” Bob Matthews said. The presenters said the site will be built out in stages, with consoles installed starting Sept. 15 and additional connectivity work to follow.

Why it matters: Council members said Riverview faces both budget pressure and community expectations about local police presence. A consolidated dispatch could reduce duplicated…