Project funded by the American Rescue Plan Act
The City of Piedmont has completed work on its new emergency dispatch center and will begin transferring dispatchers into the new facilities in mid-December.
Officials including Police Chief Frederick Shavies and Fire Chief Dave Brannigan gave tours to the public of the new facilities on Dec. 8.
“Dispatch is the lifeline of public safety,” Shavies told a group.
The building was constructed in the late 1950s, according to Director of Public Works Daniel Gonzales. He said in addition to moving various pieces around in the building, the electrical and technological wiring infrastructure was upgraded and a generator added to the site.
The dispatch center is much more spacious than the old quarters. Also, an old fireplace was removed from the building and a new bathroom was built. Dispatchers used to have to travel a much longer distance to use the facilities.
Chief Brannigan said he hoped the new facilities might help with employee retention.
Piedmont Fire chief David Brannigan discusses the city’s new dispatch center during a public tour on Dec. 8. 
Director of Public Works Daniel Gonzales said the building, built in the 1950s, needed a significant retrofit. 
Piedmont police chief Frederick Shavies explains the functions of the city’s new dispatch center during a public tour.
“Retention’s really important,” he said. “If they train here and move on to somewhere else, we’re almost starting over.”
Chief Shavies said the number of dispatchers in Piedmont had remained the same since 1978. Recently the city has added one supervisor and one dispatcher position.
He said there had been questions of consolidating dispatch with another city.
“The idea that we would outsource, to me, was untenable,” he said.
The project began in June, 2024. It was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and a $1.8 million contract was awarded for the project.
Piedmont fields approximately 13,000 calls each year for the police and fire departments.
Shavies said training would begin in about a week after the tours. The center will go live a few days later.