Oceanport first responders: Don't use county's 911
Sharkey: Boro could save $225K yearly by joining county's dispatch
BY SUE MORGAN
Staff Writer

OCEANPORT - When it comes to 911 operators, you get what you pay for, according to several local first responders.

Even if the borough government could slice $225,000 out of its municipal budget by furloughing its own dispatchers and hooking into Monmouth County's emergency dispatch system, some local first aid squad members, police and residents say that the savings would not justify the possible loss of life and limb.

Speaking, somewhat passionately, during the public portion of the Borough Council's July 20 meeting, opponents of one official's proposal to join the dispatch service operated by the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department in Freehold, predicted dire consequences if Oceanport failed to keep its own 911 operators who intimately know the town's roadways and landmarks.

Despite the criticism, however, Councilman Hugh Sharkey defended his recommendation and cited cost savings realized by Matawan and other municipalities that have gone on line with the county's dispatch.

The estimated cost savings of $225,000 yearly includes salaries and insurance, Sharkey explained while reporting the results of his research into sharing services with other government entities.

"I believe the numbers are fairly accurate," Sharkey said. "My recommendation is to switch to the county dispatch, as has been done in Matawan."

When proposals to share dispatch services with either neighboring Little Silver or West Long Branch did not pan out, Sharkey said he explored joining the county's 911 system instead.

Little Silver has since decided to share its dispatch system with Shrewsbury, Fair Haven and Rumson, he noted.

The savings to Oceanport under a shared services agreement with Little Silver would have been about $100,000 yearly, according to Council President Gerald Briscione, who along with Sharkey met with officials in the neighboring town to discuss joining dispatch forces.

Nonetheless, Little Silver's police officers are still opposed to sharing their dispatchers with Oceanport or any other municipality, according to borough resident Gary LaBruno, who works as a police officer in the neighboring town.

Little Silver police even tried to get the governing body there to not enter any interlocal agreements to share dispatchers, said LaBruno, a former council candidate in Oceanport.

Oceanport First Aid Squad Capt. Laura Hornung and squad member Ed Ryan warned against relying on a county dispatch system that is sometimes overburdened and understaffed.

Referring to a prior experience with county dispatchers, Ryan recalled that on one occasion, a 911 call was diverted from Freehold, where lines were backed up, to a dispatcher in Edison, Middlesex County.

That dispatcher was not familiar with addresses or directions in Oceanport and did not even know the location of Monmouth Park Racetrack, a landmark in town, Ryan said.

"Which is more important - saving lives and properties or saving money?" Ryan asked.

Many of the dispatchers on Oceanport's payroll are lifelong borough residents or longtime employees of the local police department, according to Hornung, who said she herself is a lifelong resident.

Many municipalities that switched to the county's 911 system are not pleased with the level of service compared to having their own locally based dispatchers, she continued.

The borough's public safety committee has voted against moving to the county system, said Hornung, a member of the committee.

"[Transferring to the county system is] not going to save lives," Hornung said.

Likewise, Police Chief Harry Sutton urged the council to keep its own dispatch system.

"The value of our dispatchers far outweighs the cost," Sutton said. "They're well worth what we do pay them."

For all of the objections voiced by first responders, Sharkey stressed that some residents have complained about high municipal taxes and have suggested sharing services as a means of relief.

"My job is to bring out issues that residents bring up," Sharkey said.

Even so, Pemberton Avenue resident Janet Surak asserted that the dispatchers and first responders are worth their salaries and benefits.

"I can't tell you how wonderful the first aid squad is and the police are if you're fortunate enough not to have an emergency," Surak said.

"They are there in seconds," she said. "Now all of a sudden we can't afford to have dispatchers? I'm appalled at what I'm hearing."

Daniel Barcus, a borough police detective and spokesman for the Oceanport Policemen's Benevolent Association, spoke on behalf of the union.

"The PBA does not want you to get rid of the dispatchers," Barcus said. "They are borough employees."

The burden of proof is now on the public safety committee to show documented proof at a future council meeting that Oceanport needs its own dispatch force, Hornung said in an interview last week.

The county Sheriff's Office communications center is staffed with 57 public service telecommunicators and provides primary dispatch services for seven police departments, 29 fire departments and 19 first aid squads, according to information released by county officials in April.

Altogether, the county telecommunications center provides 911 dispatch services for 44 of the county's 53 municipalities, officials have said.