BRIDGEPORT, CT— Today Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) along with Easton First Selectman Tom Herrmann, Monroe First Selectman Steve Vavrek, and Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst and first responders from each town toured the Easton, Monroe and Trumbull Police Departments to highlight the importance of a proposed regional communications center.
Pictures for this event are available upon request.
“This type of regional cooperation is essential—to both improve the safety of our residents and ensure efficient use of taxpayer funds,” said Himes. “Today’s tour helped us demonstrate how Easton, Monroe, and Trumbull will use this funding to improve emergency response times, which is just the type of backing I need as I continue working to secure final approval for this important project.”
The three towns worked together to apply for federal assistance to fund a center that will coordinate emergency response efforts. The funding has been approved by House Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and State. The full appropriations committee will soon take up this legislation followed by consideration by the full House of Representatives.
“When projects like this come along that improve public safety and/or save us money by consolidating services, these are the types of projects we should be working on passing together,” said Monroe First Selectman Steve Vavrek.
The new center will streamline communications and reduce overhead, result in shorter response times, provide superior call processing, and create significant savings for taxpayers.
“The Regional Dispatch Center will streamline the current process in place. It will provide a cost effective solution for public safety for the three towns and improve the dispatch service to residents,” said Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst.
In each town, Himes and the first selectmen learned from police officers and dispatchers about the workings of a typical day at the police department, including the number and severity of calls received and the methods by which first responders are dispatched. The first selectmen discussed the specific benefits that a regional dispatch center would provide to their towns.
“A regional public safety communications center will provide the three communities with an opportunity for enhanced professional telecommunications at cost savings through shared services and expenses,” said Monroe Police Chief John Salvatore.
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Congressman Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District, which includes the communities of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.