Wrentham, Norfolk, Plainville, Franklin Police and Fire Depts Explore 911 Regionalization

The Wrentham, Norfolk, Plainville and Franklin police and fire departments have commissioned a feasibility study for regionalizing the 911 services of the towns.

Those departments, according to a police press release, serve about 58,000 people.

Communications technology firm L.R. Kimball will conduct the study, the results of which will be announced in July.

Wrentham Fire Chief Jay McMorrow said the idea of regionalization started with the police, as the towns share many services.

"We've been relying on each other so much, it seemed like communications was a good stepping-off point," he said. "If dispatch is centralized, they'll know what resources are available."

McMorrow said it may be better to have two or three dispatchers working at a centralized dispatch center than four dispatchers for four communities.

"If a town gets three calls, you'd have two or three dispatchers working at the facility, instead of one dispatcher handling three calls," he said.

Police Chief James Anderson said in a statement that regionalization seems to make sense.

"The four municipalities have always enjoyed a strong working relationship," he said. "It's possible that a combined approach to emergency services will allow us to better serve our communities and possibly save taxpayers money at the same time."

"If that's the case, we have a responsibility to explore our options," he added.