Saying that the existing system compromises public safety, Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Eric Peterson called Tuesday for a new, stand-alone dispatch center that would focus exclusively on the needs of fire and emergency medical services.
The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to direct staff to explore the viability of creating such a dispatch center, which is estimated to cost $2.83 million annually, and according to Peterson could lead to faster response times and improved communication.
All law enforcement-related emergency calls would still be routed through the sheriff's Public Safety Dispatch Center in rural Santa Barbara.
"I see this as a long, unhappy marriage that just isn't working," 1st District Supervisor Das Williams said about the county's existing dispatch system, which has been operated by the Sheriff's Office since 1977.