GROVELAND, Fla. — The Groveland Police Department will temporarily move its police dispatch operations into the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center after staffing shortages left the department with just five dispatchers.
The temporary arrangement begins Nov. 16, according to a release from the city of Groveland.
Lake County dispatchers will assist Groveland communications technicians while the city evaluates longer-term options for handling police dispatch services.
Staffing shortage prompts move
Groveland has 10 police dispatcher positions budgeted but had been operating with seven filled positions, according to the city.
The department said it has been unable to onboard new dispatchers for about three years and that its compensation falls below other local dispatch opportunities.
That staffing level fell to five this week after GPD terminated two dispatchers following what the city described as a sustained investigation into misconduct.
The city said the investigation involved comments made while the employees were on duty that fell below the department’s professional standards.
“Staffing levels within GPD’s dispatch center have declined to a point where the department currently cannot sustain the service without help,” Interim City Manager Tim Maslow said.
Maslow said remaining staff will work alongside Lake County dispatchers while city officials review long-term options to present to the Groveland City Council.
All five remaining Groveland dispatchers will remain employed, Public Safety Director and Fire Chief Kevin Carroll said.
Police response times not expected to change
Officials said residents should not notice any change in police response times or call handling because of the temporary move.
“I want to be clear: this co-location will in no way impact our officers’ ability to respond to calls or protect our community,” Police Chief Sammy Anderson said. “We believe in keeping service as local as possible, but our staffing levels have put us in this position. I will not sacrifice public safety.”
Groveland is one of only two municipalities in Lake County that operates its own police dispatch service separately from the sheriff’s office, according to the city.
The City Council has previously considered contracting dispatch services to the sheriff’s office as a cost-saving measure but chose to keep the service in-house.
Fire-related calls will not be affected because Groveland Fire Department calls are already handled in coordination with the county’s Fire Rescue Communications Center.
City officials said the temporary co-location is not related to fiscal impacts from Amendment 3.
Groveland officials will continue evaluating options for the future of the city’s dispatch operations before bringing recommendations to the City Council.
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