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Highlands Today

AP Dispatch Merging With Sheriff's Office

Joe Seelig/Highlands Today

Avon Park police dispatcher Steven Ahrens answers calls and dispatches police responses Wednesday at police headquarters. His is one of six dispatcher jobs that will disappear on Sept. 29, when the Avon Park Police Department switches over to the sheriff's office central dispatch.

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: September 18, 2008

AVON PARK - Police officials continued Wednesday to prepare for the big day starting at 6 a.m. Sept. 29 when its police communications will be dispatched through the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Central Dispatch.

"The advantage is all of law enforcement in Highlands County will be on the same system," said Avon Park Police Department Sgt. Jason Lister, who is in charge of the project at the Avon Park end. "There will be one master database (CTS America)."

One of the advantages of the switch is that police will be able to see in real time what calls are occurring across the county, said Lister.

If there is a robbery somewhere in the county, there is a radio alert tone activated and every department will be aware of it. This increases options for mutual aid.

"We will be able to see where every single law enforcement and municipal fire vehicles are located," said Lister.

Police Chief Matt Doughney added that in the past police departments had to rely on helicopters and radios for the kind of information that will allow them see exactly where a unit has positioned itself or to set up crime-scene perimeters or road blocks.

Through the Smart Cops program, Avon Park Police will join the other departments in having immediate access to sheriff's central records. Officers responding to calls at a given address will have access to information about previous calls to that address.

Unfortunately, at 6 a.m. Sept. 29, six police dispatchers will lose their jobs.

"I commend these men and women who, even though they know at the end of the month their positions end with the city, have stayed," said Doughney. "I give credit to each one. Their dedication and service has been commendable."

A couple of them are going to school, Doughney said. "One has children and plans to stay home."

That would be Allie Cardoso, 30, of Sebring, who has worked for Avon Park Police Department as a dispatcher for the last five years and two months. She and her husband of 11 years and their boys moved to Avon Park in 2003, she said. Her boys are 9, 8, 6, and 2.

"I didn't want to work for the sheriff's office," she said. "They work shifts that alternate every 60 days, so there are no set schedules."

She was not in agreement with the consolidation.

"You think this is the kind of job that will last forever," she said. "I have a right to be bitter. I'll be jobless."

But maybe her joblessness will not last for too long. She plans on taking some time off to care for the boys and is taking a medical transcription course.

"Once I complete that course in three to six months I'll try to work from home because of the cost of child care," she said.

Dispatcher Steven Ahrens, 32, of Avon Park, said he has enrolled in the Public Safety Academy at South Florida Community College and will graduate on March 11.

"I've been in since April this year," he said.

He's been a dispatcher with Avon Park for two years and three months, he said. He too doesn't like the consolidation move.

Since May, three of the city's nine dispatchers transferred to the sheriff's central dispatch, where they are receiving training.

Also effective on Sept. 29, the Avon Park Police Department lobby will only be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A call button has been installed that will connect people to the sheriff's central dispatch.

A sign will be posted outside the lobby with the new hours.

The city's public works and water utility customers may have gotten used to calling the police department to get help. That too will change on Sept. 22.

Callers after hours will go to an automated attendant that will direct callers to options to contact the water and public works departments. Emergency calls will go to 911 and non-emergency callers will have an option to press No. 1 and reach the sheriff's communications center.

Public works always has had its own radio system at its office and a secretary.

"All of our cars and our portables will be able to communicate with them," said Doughney. "But, after hours public works will have an on-call number, so they'll still be able to provide 24-hour service for public works and the water department."

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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