Towns press state police over consolidated dispatching amid response concerns

At a Dec. 20 special meeting Lt. Scott Smith (Commanding Officer, Troop D) and Lt. Clifford Labbe Jr. (Commanding Officer, Troop C) briefed NECCOG members on the consolidation of State Police dispatch operations. The troopers provided two documents outlining the consolidation and a Troop D fact sheet describing impacts on the region.

Council members said they were worried consolidation could cause response delays and noted the consolidated center’s dispatchers might be unfamiliar with local geography and needs. Members also expressed concern that Troop D was understaffed, given that it handled the largest number of walk‑ins in Connecticut and would need to staff barracks during business hours to mitigate service gaps.

Killingly’s council had already passed a resolution opposing the consolidation, and NECCOG members said they expected next steps to involve outreach to the General Assembly. Troopers answered questions and were thanked for their presentation; members said further action would be discussed with state legislators.