Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal and Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette recently announced a joint venture to relocate all dispatch services to the 911 Call Center on Dollar Road.

A transition plan is being developed that will allow all calls for assistance to the Sheriff’s Office, the Bogalusa Police Department and the Bogalusa Fire Department to be managed from a central location with multiple dispatchers.

The 911 Call Center contains state of the art equipment, which will assist all agencies to be more efficient in receiving calls and dispatching personnel to crime or fire scenes. Dispatchers from each agency will be able to provide back-up support to each other.

All calls for service will be recorded, to provide a record of services requested and services provided.

The consolidation of agency dispatchers will be especially helpful in the event of a natural disaster in the parish. The Call Center will serve as a central command location so that all requests for assistance and emergency responses can be coordinated to better serve all citizens.

Seal said that he and Perrette have been in discussion for several weeks about relocating to the 911 Call Center.

“This is a move that the mayor and I have been discussing for a while,” Seal said. “Each of us serves the citizens of our parish and we want to do all we can to make that service more beneficial to all. As our equipment ages, it makes good sense to take advantage of newer equipment and a centralized location that will better serve us all.

“It is a good financial and logistical move that will enable us continue to do a good job in serving citizens in both jurisdictions.”

Perrette said the new facility will be a benefit to Bogalusa, as well.

“The sheriff and I see this as a win-win situation for the parish and the city,” she said. “It is so good to work together for the betterment of all. Each of us cares deeply for the residents of Bogalusa and throughout the parish, and want to do everything we can to serve them in the most efficient and practical manner possible.

“This move will free up fire department personnel for firefighting duties and will be a positive personnel and financial move for the city of Bogalusa.”

No date has been set for completing the transition process. The Sheriff’s Office, the city government of Bogalusa and the staff of the 911 Call Center will be working together in coming weeks to make a seamless transition.