Norwood officials hear public-safety reports as regional dispatch cites $9.7M in upgrades

At the Jan. 13 Board of Selectmen meeting, public-safety officials provided end-of-year activity summaries and updates on equipment and staffing.

Police leadership reported roughly 5,200 calls for service through December, 562 citations issued, 468 parking tickets, 107 motor-vehicle accidents and 38 arrests, and described continued use of discretion for traffic enforcement and expanded in-house training (1,572 hours reported). The department also confirmed three lateral hires and said one officer recently completed field training and is fully deployed.

The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communication Center’s communications director, Steve Folk, introduced Assistant Director Katie Sylvia and told the board the regional center has invested $9,700,000 in infrastructure over the last two-and-a-half years, including a new radio system, microwave connectivity, mobile data terminals and station alerting. Folk said Norwood accounted for about 11,259 calls in 2025 — roughly 12.7% of the center’s call volume — and the center now dispatches 14 communities. He said the center is adequately staffed with about 15–16 telecommunicators on shift and additional supervisors/trainers during the day.

The fire department reported 7,270 calls for the year and described mutual aid activity, a transition to the NEMS reporting system, rope-rescue and forcible-entry training, and plans to put ALS (advanced life support) equipment on an engine and ladder truck within weeks to enable higher-level care until an ambulance transports a patient.

Board members asked about the impact of rising call volume on dispatch capacity and overnight parking enforcement. Folk said the center is handling the added volume and the town’s police chief and fire leadership described trade-offs officers face between answering emergent calls and completing enforcement/safety patrols. The chiefs said the department uses tactics including reverse 9-1-1 and social media to warn residents ahead of severe weather and towing operations.

No formal board action was required; the Selectmen thanked staff for the reports and noted a forthcoming joint staffing-study presentation.