Grosse Pointe Woods Expands Dispatch Center

The emergency dispatch center will double in size in the coming weeks after a project to expand the area began this week.

A plastic sheet now hangs in the same location as what used to be the rear wall, separating the current dispatch desk from the area that is under construction.

Director of Public Safety Andrew Pazuchowski said the expasion is two-fold. Officials discovered an opportunity to buy a nearly new, state-of-the-art dispatch desk at an extreme discount from Roseville dispatch, which was trying to rid itself of the equipment, he said.

The desk is about a $10,000 value but Woods officials paid about $1,000, Pazuchowski said. All of the construction for the expansion is being completed by employees from the Department of Public Works, so the city is not spending additional money, he said.

Currently officers who are on-duty and at the station must work in an area far from dispatch yet the same officer is also responsible for helping the dispatcher, Pazuchowski said.

The expansion will allow officers to be in the same office area as the on-duty dispatcher to complete reports and perform other administrative duties, he said, noting it will simply organize the department more.

The expansion also comes while .

Earlier this week, manager Pete Dame told the council that the Woods had the best offer by far of the three cities. The decision is not likely to be reached too soon. Dame is awaiting an answer on a grant application he submitted on behalf of all of the Pointes that seeks the financing for an all Pointes dispatch and lockup center.

Pazuchowski said the construction is simply to improve the working environment for the dispatchers and the officers. Should the City eventually decide to consolidate with the Woods, officials would easily be able to convert the table into another dispatch desk, Pazuchowski said.

In addition to awaiting the grant answer, the and evaluating whether the move would beneficial to both cities.