BIDDEFORD — A plan to reduce the number of centers that answer emergency 911 calls in the state has some local critics. Several police chiefs say they believe that the plan, which would leave York County with one call center instead of three, is flawed and could result in reduced safety for citizens.

Representatives for the state say the plan will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the 911 system, but locals who oppose it say financial concerns are the main reason for the state’s push for consolidation.

“They’re looking to ”˜Wal-mart-ize’ public safety,” said Saco Police Chief Bradley Paul.

Between 2005 and 2008, the number of Public Service Answering Point, or PSAP, centers which answer emergency calls throughout the state, were reduced from 48 to 26.

A report recently completed for the state by the L. Robert Kimball consulting firm recommended that there be a further reduction in the number of PSAP centers, to between 15 and 17.

According to the Kimball Report, the last consolidation created an emergency communications system “that is more complex and fragmented than existed prior to the PSAP reduction.”

In addition to a further reduction in centers, the report recommends that PSAPs and dispatch functions be consolidated into regional centers to reduce errors and response times and lower costs.

Many communities retained their dispatch function locally ”“ through which police, fire and/or rescue crews are sent to respond to incidents ”“ thereby maintaining the same personnel costs, as well as paying additional costs for contracted PSAP services.

In York County, the three PSAP centers are located in Biddeford, Sanford and York. The state recommendation is to have all PSAP calls answered by Sanford, which has a new police station, and eliminate the other two centers.

Being recommended as the sole PSAP center in York County “is something we’re obviously excited about,” said Sanford Police Department Communications Director R.J. Legere.

Currently the Sanford center handles a combination of different services for 17 communities and the York County Sheriff’s Department. Sanford charges communities $2.50 per capita for PSAP services, he said, and more if the center provides other services such as dispatch.

Sanford has been trying to combine PSAP and dispatch services, said Legere, because it’s less confusing and eliminates call transfers.

Legere said he initially was skeptical of communities giving up their dispatch services, but because of technological advances he thinks the system works well and “it’s a cost savings to the towns.”

But Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre said he isn’t convinced.

If the Biddeford center is closed and calls must be handled by Sanford, Beaupre said, he thinks it will cost Biddeford taxpayers more and public safety will suffer.

Under the current system, emergency calls are sometimes lost or dropped or they are mistakenly sent to Biddeford from another PSAP center, he said.

If calls are no longer answered in Biddeford, there will be a slower response time to Biddeford residents experiencing an emergency, he said.

Beaupre said he believes what he terms “Governor John Baldacci’s raid” of the 911 surcharge fund is the real impetus for increased consolidation.

Citizens pay a surcharge for each of their telephone “land” lines and all cell phones.

Since 2005, the state has removed more than $7 million from this telephone surcharge fund and added it to the general fund, said Baldacci spokesman David Farmer.

However, increased public safety service is the reason for increased consolidation, said Farmer.

“To say the these transfers is why the PUC is going through this process is not accurate,” he said.

Beaupre said he doesn’t believe that. He also said citizens already pay through this surcharge fee for 911 services. Those who live in communities that don’t have their own PSAP center pay twice, said Beaupre, and Biddeford residents will be in that same boat if they have to pay Sanford to answer their calls.

Chief Paul said he also thinks the state’s reason for consolidation is to save money.

“If we could get the best level of service from consolidation, I would be for it,” said Paul, but he said he’s not sure that is the case.

During the last round of consolidation, Saco gave up its PSAP function but retained its dispatch. This increased Saco’s costs because in addition to paying for its dispatch staff it must also pay an annual fee, about – $42,000 – to Biddeford, which handles the city’s emergency calls.

“Biddeford’s PSAP does a great job,” said Paul. However, he said, because Saco’s emergency calls, which go to Biddeford, must then be transferred to Saco’s dispatch, “there is a little bit slower service. We thought it was a safer system when we delivered the service.”

If Saco was required to have calls answered and possibly dispatched from Sanford, along with all the other communities in York county, Paul said he is concerned that service would be diminished.

“It’s not a turf issue,” said Paul. “I am concerned about the delivery of public safety services for the citizens of Saco.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.