Dispatcher and call-taker staffing levels plunged during the pandemic and have been slow to rebound, leading to a vicious cycle, workers say, of overwork and burnout.
Wicked Local
FOXBOROUGH – Built in 1960 to transmit telephone and television signals nationwide, the High Rock site surrounded by conservation land is now home to a state-of-the art emergency communication center.
The large, long-vacant cement building in Foxborough was recently transformed into the new $8.7 million Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communication Center (SEMRECC). The center provides emergency dispatching for the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional 911 District. The district, formed in 2017, includes Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield and Norton. The four towns created a regional district to improve service and cut costs.
State and local officials, police, firefighters and SEMRECC staff gathered April 16 to celebrate the center’s completion.
New regional dispatch center handles 911 calls for four towns
Wicked Local
FOXBOROUGH – Built in 1960 to transmit telephone and television signals nationwide, the High Rock site surrounded by conservation land is now home to a state-of-the art emergency communication center.
The large, long-vacant cement building in Foxborough was recently transformed into the new $8.7 million Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communication Center (SEMRECC). The center provides emergency dispatching for the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional 911 District. The district, formed in 2017, includes Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield and Norton. The four towns created a regional district to improve service and cut costs.
State and local officials, police, firefighters and SEMRECC staff gathered April 16 to celebrate the center’s completion.
Athol unions oppose regionalizing dispatch
Police dispatcher Becky Isakson works inside the Athol Police Station on Thursday. Athol’s police, firefighters’ and dispatchers’ unions have submitted letters objecting to regionalization. Recorder Staff/Domenic Poli
Published: 9/23/2016 9:32:50 PM
ATHOL The town’s three emergency services unions have submitted letters objecting to proposed regionalization of their dispatching and blasting what members view as a mishandled process to achieve it.
Unions representing Athol’s firefighters, police officers and dispatchers filed formal opposition with the Board of Selectmen, which two of the letters contend did not properly gather input from the unions. The proposal is to consolidate Athol police and fire dispatch with that of Gardner and operate in a regional emergency communication center in the new Gardner police station.