The Town of New London operates a regional dispatch center that provides critical emergency communication services for police, fire, and ambulance, both locally and for partner municipalities. As public safety demands, technology, and service expectations continue to evolve, the Town seeks a comprehensive, objective evaluation of its current dispatch operations, financial structure, and long-term sustainability.
This project is intended to establish a clear and data-driven understanding of how the existing dispatch model is functioning today, including staffing, operations, facilities, technology, and call handling protocols. It will also assess the full financial picture of the current system, including cost allocation among participating communities, identification of fixed and variable costs, and any structural inefficiencies or financial risks.
In addition to evaluating current conditions, the project will examine alternative service delivery models. This includes benchmarking against comparable regional dispatch centers, conducting side-by-side cost comparisons, and assessing governance structures, service levels, and long-term viability. Particular attention will be given to understanding the value and implications of maintaining local control versus transitioning to a regional or consolidated model.
The study will also explore more complex operational scenarios, such as split dispatch models where police, fire, and ambulance services may be handled by different centers. These scenarios will be evaluated for their impact on coordination, interoperability, service quality, response times, and overall system reliability, as well as the associated financial and administrative implications.
The study shall assess the future cost and operational impact of any recommended changes to process, technology, staffing, facility configuration, or size — modeling anticipated costs over a minimum five-year horizon for each scenario analyzed.
Additional information can be found on the Town of New London website.