Rep. Carter would like to inform you about an alarming public safety issue that was recently brought to his attention. In an effort to increase “efficiency and cost savings,” the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is consolidating the dispatch operations of State Police Troop A of Southbury (which services Bethel, Danbury and Redding) into Troop L of Litchfield.
This consolidation will affect telephone services, police and emergency dispatch functions, troop staffing levels and general public safety services, because Troop A will only be occupied by a sworn Trooper Monday through Friday, exclusively during business hours.
Within the coming weeks, Troop A will be closed to the general public and will be unoccupied during the evening and midnight shift hours throughout the week, and during all shifts on the weekends and state holidays.
This sudden decision is troubling and leaves Rep. Carter and others with many questions and concerns about the potential risks and consequences of this consolidation.
Rep. Carter has reached out to Colonel Danny R. Stebbins, the Deputy Commissioner of the state’s Division of State Police, and respectfully requested that this consolidation be delayed for 60 days. That would allow time to ascertain how such a move will impact emergency services, and perhaps address many of the concerns that I have.
Rep. Carter and his legislative colleagues that represent the affected towns were not notified in advance of these plans. Moreover, earlier public statements made by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection regarding the transfer of dispatch services to Litchfield did not indicate that Troop A was going to essentially close.
The affected towns include: Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Middlebury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Waterbury and Wolcott.
If you have concerns about how this sudden decision will affect our community, please share them with Colonel Danny R. Stebbins by calling 860-685-8000.
