Local Florida Leaders Unite for Ceremonial Signing to Create Joint Dispatch Center

City of Tallahassee Mayor John Marks and other local emergency management leaders will sign a monumental agreement this week that will ensure the creation of a joint dispatch center for the purposes of dispatching all law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. The ceremonial signing will take place in the Capitol Courtyard on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. Speakers at the event will include County Commission Chairman DePuy and City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey, who are the lead negotiators on this issue for their respective governments, Sheriff Campbell and Chief McNeil.

Currently, the City dispatches units with the Tallahassee Police Department and the Tallahassee Fire Department, while the Leon County Sheriff's Office dispatches units with the Sheriff's Office and Leon County Emergency Medical Services. A joint dispatch center for law enforcement and emergency personnel has been a priority for the City and County Commissions and the Sheriff for many years.

Dispatching emergency calls from one dispatch center will allow for more efficient response and deployment of both emergency and non-emergency calls, which will greatly enhance the public's safety.

The agreement formally establishes the Public Safety Communications Board (PSCB), composed of the County Administrator, the City Manager, the Sheriff, Chief of Police, Fire Chief and EMS Chief, or their designees. The PSCB is responsible for overseeing the implementation and operation of a joint dispatch center. The City and County Commissions agreed to the creation of a joint dispatch operation in April.

Joining the mayor will be Leon County Commission Chairman Ed DePuy, Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, Tallahassee Police Chief Walter McNeil, Tallahassee Fire Chief Cindy Dick, Leon County Emergency Medical Services Chief Tom Quillin, City Manager Anita Favors Thompson and County Administrator Parwez Alam.