$4 Million 911 Dispatch Center Opens In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — When there’s a fire or a drug overdose, every second counts. That’s why Fairfield and Westport first responders prioritized efficiency when designing the state’s first regional emergency 911 dispatch center.

Fairfield police and fire dispatchers moved into the new facility this week, and Westport dispatchers are expected to join them in May or June. The joint emergency center, named Fairfield County Regional Dispatch, is located on the campus of Sacred Heart University.

“We are the first municipalities in the state to tackle this project,” said Fairfield police Sgt. Jason Greenfield, who is the communications project manager for the facility. “We are keenly aware that there are a lot of eyes on us.”

Development of the regional center has been ongoing for about four years, according to Greenfield, who said its construction cost about $4 million — $1.7 million from each town and $600,000 in state grant money from the Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications.

“It’s actually going to streamline our process quite a bit,” said Assistant Chief Matthew Cohen of the Westport Fire Department.

Westport fire and police dispatchers currently work out of two separate 911 centers.

“It really drags out the call processing phase,” he said, an issue he expected the new center would address. “It’s going to be a great chance for both towns to see some real improvements in service and efficiency, and we’re hoping to expand the agency out further.”

Westport also handles fire dispatching for New Canaan, so the regional center will take on that work as well. With its central location, the facility has the potential to add other municipal agencies in the future, according to Greenfield.

“This is kind of a fresh start for us, with all the latest technology and tools,” he said.

Upgraded hardware capable of integrating with state systems will replace the antiquated technology at the agencies’ previous dispatch centers. The new location also allows Fairfield dispatchers to move out of a facility in a flood zone. Dispatchers will be better able to communicate with field units, and having several agencies in one room will allow them to more effectively absorb overflow while consolidating administrative and management duties.

“What we really need is the ability to have a connection between the 911 caller and the responders,” said Assistant Chief Erik Kalapir, of the Fairfield Fire Department. “Making that workflow process as quick as possible is what we strive for.”