Police chief warns outsourcing dispatch could slow response despite modest savings

The council heard a detailed presentation and hours-long debate over whether to outsource the township police dispatch center to a county or regional provider.

Chief: “Outsourcing dispatch eliminates our control to hire and train our dispatchers and ... This may present a significant safety concern,” the chief told the council, describing situations in which an in-person dispatcher can immediately assist victims or admit someone who comes to headquarters during off hours.

Why it matters: Staff and the chief presented two options — Bergen County Division of Public Safety and Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch — and an Excel cost analysis that showed large upfront conversion and retrofit costs and smaller recurring savings. According to the materials and the chief’s summary, the first-year startup and build-out expenses could total about $160,000; recurring annual costs under outsourcing were estimated to be roughly $2.37K–$2.90K (presented as thousands in the spreadsheet) with a net recurring savings to the township near $40,000–$45,000 per year. At that rate, staff estimated about four years to recover start-up costs.

Chief’s concerns and operational effects: The chief said in-house dispatchers handle multiple tasks beyond answering phones — they staff the lobby, accept drop-offs (medication disposal), process handicap placard applications, monitor cameras at headquarters and school properties, and perform ancillary duties (records, firearm checks) that free patrol officers to remain on the road. “Timely dispatching of emergency services is paramount,” he said, adding that local dispatchers often move from call intake to dispatch in 30 to 60 seconds. He argued outsourcing would add handoffs and extra steps that could lengthen response times.

Council questions and counterpoints: Other council members and staff probed the numbers, noting some neighboring towns show higher per-town dispatch budgets and asking whether costs are negotiable. One councilor noted the town previously outsourced 911 voice answering for financial reasons and asked whether similar financial pressures justify outsourcing day-to-day dispatch. Staff acknowledged the county agency would offer positions to existing dispatchers but said initial offers would likely start at lower pay than current local wages.

Next steps and context: The discussion did not produce a final policy decision at this meeting; councilors asked for additional clarifying detail from staff and the chief (including call-volume breakdowns for 911 vs. non-emergency desk calls) before taking a vote. The chief emphasized that any decision would affect day-to-day operations, lobby access and the town’s ability to monitor school cameras and other local systems.

Ending: Council members agreed to keep the discussion on the agenda and requested additional documentation and comparisons before moving forward.