History

Following nearly 5 years of planning between the Town of Webster and the Town of Dudley, the South Worcester County Communications Center officially began providing 911 Call Taking and Dispatch Services to the Towns of Webster and Dudley on November 19, 2014.

The idea of Regional Dispatch was initially explored by Webster and Dudley during fiscal year 2010 at which time State 911 Department grant funding was provided for a feasibility study. Over the next four fiscal years, local officials worked closely with the Public Safety Departments in both towns to develop a model to implement the Regional Dispatch Center.

Additional grant funding was received during Fiscal 2014 in order to design and equip the Regional Dispatch Center as part of the construction of the new Webster Police Station located at 357 Main St. in Webster. A project manager, CDR Maguire was also hired to assist the towns with the formation of the Center.

During calendar year 2014, several milestones were achieved beginning in January with the Towns of Webster and Dudley officially entering into an inter-municipal agreement for dispatch services. A Board of Directors, consisting of a Selectmen’s Representative and the Town Administrator from each town, was formed as the governing body of the SWCCC. An Operations Board was also formed consisting of the Police and Fire Chiefs from each town. The Operations Board is responsible for the development of policies and procedures along with monitoring the Center’s performance.

In June, 2014, Gregory Lynskey, a Dispatcher with the Webster Police Department was chosen as the first Communications Center Director for the SWCCC. The Director is responsible for the day-to-day operational and personnel matters related to the Center. The Director was also responsible for overseeing the implementation and development of the day-to-day operations in anticipation of the Center opening.

Additionally, the Center was again awarded State 911 Department Grant Funding for Fiscal 2015. This funding, in the amount of $664,553.68 is being used towards covering the cost of Transition Expenses, Construction, and Equipment. This, along with previous grants, brings the total State 911 Department Grant Funding for the SWCCC to $1,753,038.68 to date.

On November 19, 2014 at 7:00am, the South Worcester County Communications Center officially began operation. The Center is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year with a minimum of two certified Public Safety Telecommunicators. The Center employs the Communications Center Director, nine full-time Public Safety Telecommunicators, and four part-time Public Safety Telecommunicators, totaling approximately 70 years of knowledge and dedicated service to the communities.