Brentwood resident Brandon Jones, who feels strongly that the city should retain its own emergency dispatchers instead of outsourcing the service to the East Central Dispatch Services, as has been proposed, was interviewed by KSDK News Monday afternoon in front of the Brentwood Police Department.
Jones said in the interview that even if the move will save the city money it’s not worth sacrificing quicker response times.
Mayor Pat Kelly declined to take a position when interviewed by the Brentwood Spirit, but said the city should do what’s in the best interest of the residents and employees. Alderwoman Cindy Manestar told the Brentwood Spirit that outsourcing the service could lead to longer response times.
I live in Maplewood and I learned our services were outsourced when this story started coming up. I hope it works out as Brentwood residents wish it to. But I will share that anytime anything has been called for on our street(north of Manchester, west of Big Bend) whether ambulance, fire or police, that not only do Maplewood responders arrive very quickly, more often than not, we end up with a bit of a log jam as additional resources arrive from other cities as well, including Richmond Heights, Brentwood and even Rock Hill!?. Again, I didnt know we were outsourced, but knowing this now doesnt change that I am grateful for how quickly I’ve seen responders arrive.
Alderman Manestar is correct. Brentwood being the Mayor’s FIRST priority is a very long-time dead issue–he could give a rat’s…. Leave the dispatchers alone and outsource Kelly.