White Lake Police Chief: Keep Dispatch Local

Chief Edward Harris stood before more than 100 residents Tuesday and told them and the township board why he recommends sticking with a local dispatch department for both police and fire.

If the township were to consider contracting with Oakland County, Harris said it could cost the township approximately $200,500 at least - for just police dispatch services alone. Combined with fire, and other necessary components, the township would only save approximately $50,000 total – a savings Harris said doesn’t add up when you look at what services all the local White Lake dispatchers provide.

According to Harris, the police department currently spends approximately $423,000 a year to provide dispatch services to the police and fire departments in White Lake. The department is housed in the White Lake Police Department and is made up of six dispatchers.

Those dispatchers perform a number of duties within the department, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Monitoring of the jail area
• Data entry
• Surveillance of township buildings
• Ad-hoc reporting
• Updating websites
• Monitoring court ordered custody exchanges at station
• Assists in the property room
• Confirm warrants

"In 2002 the residents of White Lake voted to renew a combined public safety millage (the one up for renewal, again, in August) that supported the police department, fire department and the dispatchers," Harris said in an interview with Patch Wednesday. "In my 30 years with the department, the residents have supported us and that support shows they want to keep dispatch services local."

Supervisor Greg Baroni said Wednesday that he had asked Harris to prepare the presentation after getting requests for the board. Following the Tuesday meeting, Baroni said he, and others on the board, were satisfied with Harris's response, and the show of support from the community at the meeting for the local dispatchers. Both Baroni and Harris said many spoke out against contracting with the county.

"I think, for the present time, that the issue has been put to bed," Baroni said. "But I can't speak for all trustees."

Local business owner Jim Christopher attended the meeting in support of the local dispatchers.

"I thought his (Harris) speaking and points were spot on," Christopher said. "There were well over 100 people there that took time from their families and businesses to show their support for the police dispatchers."