Fayetteville mayor, police chief concerned over 911 services merger proposal
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- When you call 911 for help in Wake or Durham counties, the call goes to a central 911 call center. Now there's a plan to do the same thing in Fayetteville, but there is growing concern about combining the city's services with Cumberland County.
The question at stake here isn't whether it can be done. It's something that has been talked about for years in Cumberland County, but it has reached a sticking point because there is now a bill in the legislature to move things forward.
But Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that he believes the bill was rushed.
He wants to see more input from police, fire and EMS experts before they decide important factors such as whether the city or county takes the lead, and how it would affect services.
"Public safety is important, and it's too important to do it haphazardly," Colvin said. "And I understand the incentive to save money. But we don't want to have shortcuts to cost people's lives. And I think our police chiefs and our fire chiefs hit that today."
Kirk DeViere, Cumberland County Commission Chair, reacted after Colvin voiced his concerns.
"Elected officials are elected to make hard decisions. This is a hard decision, and it's a valuable decision," DeViere said. "I listen to the mayor pro tem talk about this is an important decision because it affects people's lives. And I heard him, and I believe that as well. I believe that to my core."
Fayetteville Police Chief Roberto Bryan bluntly called the proposal a "hostile takeover." He argued that it should be the City of Fayetteville at the helm since it is the larger operation and fields more emergency calls.
"Whenever there's a merger, the larger entity usually runs the show. If JetBlue and Delta merges, JetBlue ain't running the show, so what I see here is a hostile takeover. A hostile takeover."
Deadline Nears
As state lawmakers urge local governments to streamline emergency response operations to improve efficiency. County officials said they remain confident they can have discussions in time for an update on June 30.
On Thursday night, Fayetteville city leaders approved the proposal during a special meeting. Following the city's decision, county leaders met today to review the resolution and have since sent it back to the city for further consideration.
Proponents of the merger say it could lead to faster response times and improved service during emergencies, benefiting residents across the area.
Mayor Mitch Colvin of Fayetteville emphasized the importance of a thorough approach, stating, "The importance of doing it right is more important to me than doing it quickly."
Cumberland County Chairman Kirk DeViere echoed the need for high standards, saying, "The mayor and I both talk about the highest level of service, the highest standard. That's what our citizens serve. That's in our taxpayers to serve. So when you consolidated, you get that."
While the merger aims to enhance emergency response, questions remain about how the transition will unfold, what it will mean for current employees, and who will ultimately lead the new consolidated center.
"We've got great people in our 911 in both the city and the county that show up every day and do the work where they care about this community," DeViere said. "I don't doubt either one of their abilities, and I know that when we come together, we're going to achieve a higher standard and provide a better level of service to this community and to the residents that deserve it, but also pay for it."
