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Torrance County continues talks with Bernalillo on regional dispatch; technical work and staffing logistics remain
Summary
County officials detailed continuing negotiations with Bernalillo County to move dispatch operations into Bernalillo's PSAP, citing technology benefits and pending work on staffing, fire-box mapping and local knowledge transfer.
Commissioner Kevin McCall and Fire Chief Garv Smith updated the commission on negotiations with Bernalillo County about moving Torrance dispatch operations into Bernalillo's PSAP (public-safety answering point). McCall said Bernalillo's facility is staffed and equipped as a regional dispatch center; Chief Smith noted most remaining concerns are technical or structural rather than personnel-related.
Smith described a proposed transfer of 10 dispatch positions to Bernalillo under a negotiated contract (estimated $1.25 million largely reflecting personnel costs). He emphasized that Torrance dispatchers would continue to handle the county's calls but operate within Bernalillo's system, and that fireboxes (address-resource mappings) would be built collaboratively to preserve local geographic knowledge.
Next steps included joint stakeholder meetings (county managers, sheriffs, fire chiefs, dispatch directors), on-site visits for Torrance personnel to observe Bernalillo operations and a detailed plan for integrating 700 MHz digital radio systems and CAD/GPS capabilities. Commissioners said they will continue to weigh operational benefits, staffing impacts and cost implications before any final decision.
