Public Safety Communications

CURRENT MEMBERS
Stephen Harding, hired October 1988
Gerard Soulard, hired November 1997
Steven Boucouvalas, hired August 1998
Scott Nolette, hired September 2001
Beth Colomb, hired June 2005
David Gardner, hired July, 2006
Heather Gagnon, hired January, 2007
Michelle Martel, hired July, 2009
Briann Boisvert, hired January 2010
Shawn Pendleton, hired January 2011
Wendy Morrison, hired October 2011

The Saco Public Safety Communications Center handles over 25,000 calls for service every year. E-9-1-1 calls are transferred to Saco from a nearby Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and public safety services are then dispatched as needed to the scene of the emergency. This center also handles numerous seven-digit lines covering the City's Police, Fire, and Rescue departments, also all fire and rescue calls for the Goodwins Mills Fire Department, which covers the towns of Lyman and Dayton.

Our Communications Center was established in 1999 when the separate Police and Fire Department Dispatchers merged into the communications center at the Saco Police Department. We currently have 10 dispatchers on staff. Nine work a four-on two-off schedule and one dispatcher works a five-day week as computer data entry for the Police Department while filling in at communications to cover vacancies.

The City of Saco encompasses an area of 38.5 square miles and has a population of about 18,250 people. The population of Goodwins Mills, (Lyman and Dayton combined), is 5,600 residents.

ABOUT 9-1-1
With enhanced 9-1-1 our dispatchers know immediately from where the call is being made and by which telephone number, and also the person(s) or business listed to the number. This information is provided by the telephone company, so make sure that your name and address are correct on your phone bill.

WHEN TO CALL 9-1-1
9-1-1 calls should only be made when there is an emergency that has just occurred, is in progress, or for an incident that requires the immediate response of police, fire, or rescue to your location.

More about the statewide 911 system can be found by following this link.