History
Sep 1975 - Saginaw County Controller J. Marvin Baldwin Jr. announces that The Office of Criminal Justice approved a $584,095 grant to establish a Central Dispatch system for Saginaw County. That grant would cover the cost for equipment. With yearly staffing and operating costs estimated at $422,476, the county applied for a state grant to cover these costs and using Saginaw County as a state pilot project. The search for the first Director has begun.
Dec 1975 - Dennis R. Warren, chief criminal justice planner for the East Central Michigan Planning and Development Region, has been appointed director of Saginaw County’s new central dispatch system. His initial responsibilities will be to get the program developed and operating, coordinate the various police agencies and government involved, help purchase and install the needed equipment, and hire staff.
Mar 1976 - Motorola secured the equipment contract with a bid of $450,253, outperforming General Electric’s offer of $468,995. The purchase includes mobile equipment for vehicles, portable radio units, and radio consoles for the new central dispatch offices located in the basement of Saginaw City Hall. Funds also provided radio towers in James Township, Saginaw’s traffic engineering, and an antenna at the Central Fire Station at 801 Federal St.
Jan 1977 - Remodeling in the basement of Saginaw City Hall is completed and new equipment is installed. Fifteen new personnel have been hired and are in training, and 10 more dispatchers from the city are being brought over. “We’re probably about 85% done,” said Dennis Warren, system director.
Mar 1977 - A “dry run” begins and will continue for two weeks prior to starting the new central dispatch system.
April 7th 1977, 12:01am -Saginaw County Central Dispatch goes into operation.
May 1977 - "Bugs" are still being worked out with the system. Sheriff James Kelley says, " the system overall is working well" and that opinion is generally shared among other police agencies.
