Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dispatch topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wadsworth says T‑Mobile 911 calls now route directly to city dispatch; staffing still short
Summary
Police and safety officials told the Public Safety Committee that T‑Mobile 911 calls from inside city limits now go directly to Wadsworth Dispatch, likely increasing call volume; the committee was also told dispatch is budgeted for 10 positions but currently has 7 staff and two candidates in background checks.
Wadsworth officials told the Public Safety Committee on Feb. 12 that cellular 911 routing has changed for a major provider and that staffing gaps at dispatch remain a concern.
Police Chief Dave Dorland and Safety Director Dan Chafin said the city recently completed cutovers with the three major carriers; “Any cell phone 911 call placed with a T‑Mobile device within City limits would now go to the Wadsworth Center,” Chafin said, explaining that calls previously routed through the county are now landing directly at the city center. Chafin added that a rollover option sends calls back to the county if Wadsworth dispatch becomes overwhelmed.
Committee members pressed staff on coverage and overtime. Chafin said the department is budgeted for 11 authorized positions but is effectively capped at 10 for 2026; current staffed dispatchers number seven and the city has made an offer to one candidate and another is in background. “The goal was always to have two in the center,” Chafin said of staffing on day shifts, describing how supervisors routinely cover overtime to prevent single‑person shifts.
Officials outlined recruiting tactics including lateral hires and timing civil service exams to coincide with college graduation and local training program completions. The committee asked staff to continue monthly updates on hiring progress and to consider short‑term schedule changes to cover peak periods.
