CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — The Cape May County Board of Commissioners approved a shared services agreement with Lower Township on Nov. 12 to continue providing centralized 911 and emergency dispatch services through the Cape May County Communications Center.
The seven-year deal calls for Lower Township to pay the county $499,877 in 2026 and for the annual cost to be adjusted in years two through seven, based on a three-year average of calls for service in the township.
“This renewed partnership represents our ongoing commitment to public safety, efficiency and regional cooperation,” Commission Director Leonard Desiderio said. “The county’s central dispatch system allows municipalities like Lower Township to benefit from state-of-the-art communications technology and highly trained professionals, ensuring that our residents and visitors receive the fastest and most effective emergency response possible.”
Cape May County Central Dispatch continues to expand its regional emergency communications services, as Lower Township renews its commitment to the system.
Lower was the first municipality to join Central Dispatch, helping to establish the model for countywide collaboration that now serves as a benchmark across New Jersey, according to a news release from the county.
With Lower Township’s renewal and the upcoming addition of Wildwood at the end of the year, the Central Dispatch Center will serve 14 municipalities countywide.
Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel praised the continuation of the partnership.
“Working with the county’s dispatch center has been a tremendous success,” he said. “Our police, fire and EMS teams have full confidence in the county’s system and staff. This long-term agreement provides significant cost savings to our taxpayers while ensuring rapid response and uninterrupted service for our residents.”
The center has made major technological advancements recently, including the implementation of a state-of-the-art system upgrade, the ability to livestream 911 calls directly into patrol cars to enhance situational awareness and the deployment of the Phoenix G2 automated fire and EMS dispatching system. These innovations are designed to improve the speed, safety and coordination of police, fire and EMS services throughout Cape May County.
“Our partnership with Lower Township has been the foundation of Central Dispatch’s success,” Office of Emergency Management Director Chris Leusner said. “Their trust in this shared system has helped us grow and innovate, building one of the most advanced public safety communications centers in the state. We take great pride in supporting our police, fire and EMS professionals with technology that helps them serve the public more effectively than ever.”
The center’s professional staff of certified telecommunications experts handles thousands of calls each month, coordinating with multiple law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies throughout the county. By consolidating these services, Cape May County has improved emergency response times, standardized training and equipment, and reduced costs for participating municipalities, the news release stated.