Charlotte County commissioners are expected to adopt a resolution April 8 to place control of the city of Punta Gorda’s 911 dispatch center under the county’s jurisdiction.
Despite Punta Gorda City Council’s unanimous vote Feb. 19 to keep control of its own dispatch center, emergency calls will soon be handled at the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office administration complex on Loveland Boulevard in Port Charlotte.
At the February meeting, City Attorney David Levin advised that Council had the authority to exercise its home rule and keep its own dispatch center. However, the county commissioners’ resolution cites Florida statutes and rules, including one that “establishes the board of county commissioners in each county as the responsible fiscal agent for the county’s 911 system and vests the board with the ultimate responsibility and authority for operations of the E911 system within the county.”
While Punta Gorda will still have a dispatch center and answer calls, some staff members are expected to be transferred to the county’s Public Safety Answering Point complex.
The effective date for the change will be determined by Sheriff Bill Prummell. He proposed to commissioners in December that Punta Gorda’s dispatch center be taken over by the county as 911 dispatch falls under the county’s jurisdiction.
In January, Prummell shared his vision and goals for the future with WINK News, including consolidating the city’s dispatch center with the county and having a new dispatch center in Punta Gorda handle all police, fire and emergency medical services calls.
The sheriff previously asserted the city would save $1.2 million annually if the county took over dispatch, but Council agreed it would be worth spending the $1.2 million since it would be more efficient to have city calls handled by the city.
In addition to opposition from Council, residents spoke out against consolidating the dispatch operations.
“Our city deserves a 911 system that is independent,” Keith Henderson said.
Wendy Young lauded the city’s first responders and said they know how to “calm people down when they arrive.”
Kathleen Davis spoke of how quickly first responders arrived at her Punta Gorda home that experienced a fire. “We would not be in our house if it were not for dispatch,” she said.
After hearing from residents, Police Chief Pam Davis and Fire Chief Holden Gibbs explained dispatch should be kept local to provide quicker response time and better service.
Davis said although the city has a great partnership with the sheriff’s office, their departments are serving citizens “the way they want to be served.”
Addressing Davis and Gibbs, Mayor Debi Lux said, “You know our landmarks,” also noting Punta Gorda first responders are familiar with the city’s older population.
“No need to fix something that’s not broken,” council member Greg Julian said.
Council member Melissa Lockhart asked Council to adopt a consensus to “put our chiefs at ease.” Polk made the motion and Lockhart seconded it. Despite the pushback, the county overruled the city.
The county’s Emergency 911 communication answers approximately 86,413 emergency 911 calls per year.
The state’s move to consolidate counties’ 911 centers came after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission recommended all public safety agencies work toward consolidation of 911 call centers and eliminate the call transfer process to improve efficiency and enhance safety.
