Acting Chief Stephen Chaput is pleased to announce that the Dracut Police Department’s 911 dispatch services will now be provided by the Northern Middlesex Regional Emergency Communication Center (NMRECC).
The NMRECC will provide the Towns of Tewksbury and Dracut with enhanced emergency communication capabilities and technology to protect residents, visitors and businesses in those communities. The center will provide dispatch services for the police and fire departments in both towns, handling all landline and cellular 911 calls from residents.
Dracut Police switched its dispatch services to NMRECC on Monday, Oct. 26. Prior to this, dispatch services were housed at the Dracut Police Station. That space will now be used as workspace for each shift’s Officer in Charge.
Work began on the 999 Whipple Road facility in Tewksbury in the spring of 2019 and was finished earlier this summer.
“We are proud to be part of NMRECC, which will provide our community with the best possible service during an emergency,” Chief Chaput said. “This regional dispatch center is full of the latest communication capabilities and technology, and is a great example of our commitment to the health and safety of our residents. Thank you to all who supported this project and helped to make it a reality.”
The $4.3 million center was entirely paid for by State 911 Development grants as part of the state’s priority to create more regional dispatch services. The grants were used for all aspects of the project, including the cost of the initial studies, construction, equipment and software. The Town of Dracut will contribute to the annual operations cost going forward.
More information about the project can be found here. To view a video about the project, click here.