Bolingbrook Could Outsource 911 Dispatch

While no final decision has been made, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar last month confirmed that officials are looking into the possibility of outsourcing Bolingbrook's 911 dispatch service, the Chicago Tribune reported.

A representative from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union said dispatchers were told in May about the possible outsourcing to a call center run by Western Will County Communication Center.

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AFSCME Council 31 launched an online petition to urge officials to keep dispatching services in-house.
"The village’s police and fire calls are currently handled by 15 dedicated, in-house 911 dispatchers – members of the community who serve village residents and assist the police and fire departments in their duties," the union said on its website. "WESCOM is a multi-jurisdictional agency that has one call center serving 19 different police and fire departments.  If it took over 911 dispatching, the Village of Bolingbrook would be sharing dispatchers and resources with those other local governments."

The union also urges residents to call and email Bolingbrook officials to voice support for keeping 911 dispatching local.

"Bolingbrook dispatchers are familiar with the residents, geography and emergency personnel of the village, which ultimately leads to more prompt and quality service," the petition reads. "Because these dispatchers are employees of the village and accountable to its residents, the village has control over the training practices, emergency protocols and staffing levels of this dedicated work force. If the village consolidates 911 service with an outside agency, it will no longer control these vital areas that make our dispatch service the award-winning, life-saving service it is today."

View the petition here.

Last fall, residents of nearby Oak Lawn voiced their anger at a similar decision made by village officials there. On Nov. 26, the board voted to outsource 911 dispatch operations after negotiations with the dispatchers' union broke down.
Read what Oak Lawn residents had to say about the change.

In December, Lemont also made the decision to outsource 911 dispatching.