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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
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Column/LTE
Closing Dispatch Centers Hurts Minnesota’s Public Safety
The Minnesota State Patrol is working to consolidate the state’s dispatch centers from the current nine locations down to just two. Once this consolidation is completed, the northern two-thirds of the state will be dispatched from the metro area. This is very troubling to me and I hope to others as well. When you dial 911, your call goes to a state patrol dispatch center, which then assists local law enforcement in responding to the situation. Dispatchers also help direct MnDOT snow plows and DNR officials.
Is someone in the metro going to understand our area well enough to be an effective dispatcher? I have serious concerns that won’t be the case. During the flooding in the northern part of the state, dispatchers received commendations for their excellent work. Their work dispatching MnDOT workers saved roadways, in part because of their excellent knowledge of the local area. Someone stationed in the metro simply won’t know the local areas well enough, putting additional stress on local law enforcement, emergency responders, and our public safety.
The State Patrol and Department of Public Safety have claimed that this will save the state money, but no one has been able to demonstrate to me any immediate savings. Maybe it will down the road, but only at the expense of our public safety. In my time in the Minnesota House, I have supported government reforms and efficiencies, and ending wasteful spending, but public safety isn’t wasteful spending. Cuts to programs like Local Government Aid have already resulted in cuts local law enforcement, even forcing some communities to completely forgo local police.
Finally, we’re all sick and tired of US jobs going overseas to places like China. Well, I’m also sick and tired of seeing our Greater Minnesota jobs going to the metro. And while many say that government doesn’t create jobs, tell that to the six dispatchers and their families facing the closure of the Brainerd center, who don’t know what they’re going to do. Tell that to the other 30 dispatchers and their families facing this problem around Greater Minnesota at the other centers set to be closed. Government has a role to play in providing essential public services, and public safety is an essential service.
While it will be difficult to stop the closure of the Brainerd dispatch center, I’m going to continue to fight until the end. If you agree with me, I urge you to contact Governor Dayton, Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman, and Minnesota State Patrol Chief Corporal Kevin Daly.
• Governor Dayton: 800-657-3717 or http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/
• Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman: (651) 201-7160
• Corporal Kevin Daly: (651) 201-7100
It is a privilege and an honor to represent you in the Minnesota House. If you have questions on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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