By Beth David, Editor
At its meeting on 5/12/25, the Fairhaven Select Board heard from the police chief and fire chief about the change from a local dispatch system to a regional center in Holbrook.
Fairhaven Police Chief, Daniel Dorgan, ran through a litany of missteps and problems since the new system started last year, while Fire Chief, Todd Correia, said he was happy with the change. The two different outlooks come from the way dispatching has been done in each department in the past.
On January 23, 2025, Chief Dorgan sent a lengthy letter to the Select Board raising a number of concerns about the switch to the Holbrook Regional Communications Center (HRCC) that began on July 17, 2024.
Complaints in that letter include the center not answering the radio, officers sent to the wrong locations, officers sent to calls without proper backup.
Chief Dorgan wrote that he continues to staff the desk 24 hours a day because he does not want the station to be “dark” without someone there for walk-ins or emergencies.
“I do not have faith in the regional centers dispatching abilities to have my officers on the street without someone sitting at the desk that I know will answer them,” he wrote. “That unfortunately is the situation I find our department in.”
Chief Dorgan also wrote that the state is reluctant to move the 911 “Public Safety Answering Point” back to Fairhaven. He suggested a smaller regional group with Acushnet and Mattapoisett.
He said the three towns offer mutual assistance and it is crucial to the safety of the public in all three towns that they can communicate on the same channel. That is why he has kept that channel in addition to Holbrook.
Chief Dorgan also questioned the amount the town is supposed to pay HRCC in years four and five: $161,177.50 and $249.019.50. The first three years are covered by the state grant 100%; year four is covered 50%; year five is covered 25%. Presumably, year six would be more than the $332.026 total of year six and the town would have to pay 100%
He said he has not been able to get an answer on the formula used to assess the fee.
He said he has raised all those issues and more with HRCC repeatedly but the same issues keep recurring.
“An internal climate survey was recently done in our department,” wrote the chief. “The move of dispatching services to Holbrook has been repeatedly flagged as a massive detriment to morale and a major safety concern by our officers.”
At the meeting on 5/12, SB member, Andrew Romano, said he has heard of more than one incident when a 911 call took longer than it should have in dangerous situations. In one incident, the situation was on the bridge, and the dispatcher asked for an address.
The dispatcher also asked for an address when a dog attack occurred at the Rogers School. The person gave the wrong cross streets.
Chief Dorgan said he has spoken with HRCC and told them to simply repeat what the caller says because the patrol officers will know where to go.
“We’re trying to work on it and make the best out of the situation we’re stuck in,” said Chief Dorgan.
He said he understood it might not be economically feasible to get out of the contract right away.
“Trust me,” he said. “If we had some money to do it, I would do it tomorrow.”
Fire Chief Correia, however, had quite a different take on it.
“It has dramatically improved the fire side,” he said, adding they needed to be patient with the new arrangement.
Chief Correia said it is the first time they have dedicated people listening on dispatch for fire.
Chief Dorgan explained that the nature of dispatch is different for the two departments.
In a followup phone interview, he said police always had someone on the radio. The police would take the 911 call and send it to the fire department via intercom. Then, he said, the fire department needed to keep someone behind to work the radio to coordinate assets. Now, HRCC does that so everyone can be on scene.
On the police side, 911 calls get automatically routed to HRCC. Business calls and nonemergency calls are taken by the desk officer.
Resident Doug Brady asked the board if they could ask the Finance Committee to look into the details of the contract and what the fees are based on.
Mr. Romano said they should not take the focus off the safety of residents.
Chief Correia said the town will have to pay more in taxes or “start embracing the concept of regionalization.”
He said the town would need 10 dispatchers at a cost of $1.1 million, and HRCC is $350K. He said they would love to have their own people, but it is not feasible.
“The best we can do is work with Holbrook,” said Chief Correia.
Interim Town Administrator, George Samia, said the board can ask FinCom to look at the numbers, but they are an independent board. In any case, Town Account/Assistant TA Ann Carreiro would have to get the information for them anyway.
There was also some discussion on whether or not the PD and FD had dedicated dispatchers.
Chief Correia said there is one for each department and the fire dispatcher also services three other communities.
Chief Dorgan also said that if residents have complaints, they should call the police department information line.
“We need to hear it,” said Chief Dorgan, adding that the town can hold HRCC accountable on their end. “Like we are accountable to the citizens.”
Chief Dorgan said some citizens may be uncomfortable calling the station and may opt to call their elected officials. He asked that the officials then contact the PD with the information.
The number to call the Fairhaven Police Department for non-emergency calls, is 508-997-7421. Use 911 for emergencies.
The board voted to have Mr. Samia get in touch with HRCC to get the breakdown of the formula used for the assessment fee.
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