Our county has a central dispatch center.  They dispatch for the State Police, County Sheriffs, All the township Fire Departments and 4 other PD's.  We currenlty have 2 smaller cities that have there own dispatch centers, but they will soon be all dispatched out of the same place when our dispatch center moves and upgrades.    As of right now we have 3 PD channels for the 6 PD's  the largest city has one. We chare one with another agency and the other 3 are on 1.  When we upgraded to the 800mrz there was talk about everyone being on 1 channel, but that would simply be too much traffic.  The PD we share a channel with are on the other side of the big city,  We don't have any problems, but we've had this system for years, so I don't know how it was when it first started.  I think the higer-ups are going to have to sit down for you and decide what is needed to be said on the radio.  If you do have 800mrz there is NO NEED to be talking alot since only 1 person can talk at a time...Officer safety issue there.

MrAnonymouse says ...

I think this would enhance the relationship between the two departments and allow for the officers to work together such as backing each other up just outside jurisdiction, however i think some officers that are used to a small town mentality (you know - the ones that inisist on reading their report over the radio to you at the end of a call instead of  in service - report written) are going to be be in for a surprise when the busy department won't put up with that. Also - what about the close connection between the dispatchers that (should) know the area as opposed to the neighboring city. For those that consolidate, do your dispatchers take ownership of the new roles or is it seen as a burden

A problem that occurs ALOT! If at all possible (if this is going to happen), I would recommend training or re-training on both sides of the radio to make sure everyone is on the same page (eg 10 codes, clearing codes, life stories etc)

I dipatch for the Florida Highway Patrol   we cover 13 counties 5 major interstates  we also dispatch for other agencies  on the same radio system ... The Dept of Motor Carrier and Complaince (DOT/MOCC); The Dept of Enviromental Patrol (DEP); The State Fire Marshal (SFM); Alcohol Beverage and Tabacco (ABT); Dept of Juvenille Justice (DJJ); Dept of Insurance Fraud and a few others   

Most of the depts only log on and off from service    But the DOT/MOCC and the DEP guys use the same channel when they are out on patrol   this is good for officer safety from a dispatchers point of view  because,  if 1 agency gets into trouble there are other agencies that are on the same radio and hear the call for help or the situation as it is occurring and are able to assist.  The other agency could be closer and able to render assistance quicker then your own agency. This also cuts back on the dispatch having to call other agencies for assisttance when they are all on the same channel.

It does matter what the patch on your arm says    EVERYONE IS OUT THERE DOING THE SAME JOB; AND WHATS THE SAME RESULTS ... TO GO HOME SAFELY EVERY NIGHT!

Oh one other thing, MrAnonymouse, please read the T.O.U. then go to the Introduction section and make your introduction post. That should have been your first post

At our agency, we have agreements with all of our surrounding agencies, in which we

provide each other the assistance if ever needed. We have had to dispatch & take calls

for neighboring agencies before...& it was challenging because of the lack of familiarity

of the jurisdiction, but we just treated it just like any other call we receive....it took a little

bit longer to obtain the info, but the callers were VERY cooperative & understanding &

provided us with DETAILED directions to provide the officers,fire,or ems personnel.

It worked out VERY well...