POLITO COMMITS TO IMPLEMENTING CENTRALIZED EMERGENCY DISPATCH IN ATLANTIC COUNTY
(Hammonton) Atlantic County Freeholder-at-Large candidate and 23-year volunteer firefighter Nick Polito today committed to the implementation of centralized dispatch for Atlantic County should he be elected to the Freeholder Board.

“I’ve heard from first responders including firefighters, EMS and police all across the county who were disappointed that my opponent opposed central dispatch when she was an elected official in Hamilton Township,” said Polito a 23-year veteran of the Galloway and Hammonton Volunteer Fire Departments. “Establishing central dispatch in Atlantic County will increase response times and improve overall public safety in Atlantic County.”

Central dispatch had countywide support from the Atlantic County Firefighters Association and the Fire Chiefs Association. Both groups passed resolutions stating all 44 fire companies in the county supported its implementation. Atlantic County conducted a baseline survey that procured the interest of the majority of municipalities to support and join a centralized dispatch system. Immediately following this, the County of Atlantic and The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (now Stockton University) reached a preliminary agreement for the construction and operation of a countywide central dispatch facility in December 2013. The county ended up paying $351,000 in engineering costs for the facility even though it was never built.

“The county screwed up implementation of central dispatch 5 years ago. Not only was the price tag way too high, but they tried to shove it down the throats of our municipalities,” said Polito. “We can use an underutilized county property or add on an addition to current county office buildings  which would be a significant cost savings to the budget. Additionally I would immediately move to create a task force of local elected officials, members of the public safety community and the county so that we can have a collaborative approach to implementing central dispatch. I’m in the business of bringing people together, not tearing them apart.”

Polito pointed to the central dispatch system implemented in Gloucester County as a model for Atlantic County. Additionally, Cape May County has recently (2018) implemented their central dispatch in its county for $6,000,000 which was far cheaper than the county’s proposed price of $31,000,000 5 years ago.

“Atlantic County is one of the only counties in the state to not have centralized dispatch. That’s ridiculous,” said Polito. “If we’re so committed to shared services, then it’s time we practiced what we preach. I will hit the ground running on centralized dispatch on day one as your Freeholder.”

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