Participating Jeffco agencies consolidate dispatch into Jeffcom

After seven years of conversation, including five years of planning, law enforcement agencies and fire departments across Jeffco are officially dispatching through one consolidated dispatch center — Jeffcom 911 — housed at West Metro Fire Rescue.

Photo provided

The final participating agencies went live last week, including Evergreen Fire/Rescue and other mountain fire districts.

Formally called the Jefferson County Communications Center Authority, the center provides services to eight member agencies and supports an additional 14.

Though it’s a big change for agencies and dispatchers, everything remains the same for Jeffco residents.

On April 3, the mountain area’s eight full-time dispatchers moved out of Evergreen Fire/Rescue Station No. 2 and into the Jeffcom center. [EFR Chief Mike] Weege, who is a Jeffcom board member, said that the sheer economy of scale would save all the agencies $2.5 million-$3 million a year. Evergreen, for instance, is paying $531,000 for the year at Jeffcom; whereas, previously, with its own dispatching services, the personnel expenses alone were $750,000 a year.

“But, even if it’d been a wash (financially), it’s worth joining because it improves service,” Weege said.

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By Corinne Westeman and Deborah Swearingen
Wednesday, April 11, 2018