Raynham combines police and fire dispatch, freeing a firefighter for emergency calls

SOUTH COAST Raynham's police and fire departments now take emergency calls through one dispatch center, a change that frees a firefighter who had been assigned to fire dispatch to respond to emergencies, Police Chief David LaPlante and Fire Chief Bryan LaCivita said Monday.

Central dispatch began at 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, from the dispatch center at the Raynham Police Department, the chiefs said in a joint statement. Civilian dispatchers there now handle police, fire and emergency medical calls around the clock.

What changes for callers

Residents should keep calling 911 in an emergency, the departments said, and both nonemergency phone numbers stay the same: 508-824-2716 for the Police Department and 508-824-2713 for the Fire Department.

Until Sunday, police civilian dispatchers answered 911 calls and sent out police officers, while Fire Department personnel handled fire dispatch. Running both from one operation cuts down on transferring calls and helps the two departments share information while they respond to an emergency, according to the statement.

The department on the other end

The Raynham Fire Department keeps seven firefighters on duty 24 hours a day at one centrally located station, the department says. Its fleet includes three engines, a tower, a tanker, a forestry unit and three ambulances.

The department responded to more than 4,000 calls for service in 2025, including fires, motor vehicle crashes, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents and fire alarm investigations. It counts 2,880 medical emergencies in town over the past year, and an engine company goes out with the ambulance to help on scene when needed, the department says.

New staff and training

The Police Department hired two new full-time communication clerks to support central dispatch, the chiefs said. The dispatchers trained with Fire Department personnel during the week before the launch.

"This change allows us to put a firefighter who previously handled dispatch back on the apparatus to respond to emergencies," LaCivita said in the statement. "I appreciate the dispatchers' attention and willingness to learn our operations, and the support of Chief LaPlante and his command staff throughout this transition."

"Our dispatchers now coordinate calls for both departments, helping police officers and firefighters get the information they need," LaPlante said. "I thank our dispatchers and Fire Department personnel for the work they put into preparing for this transition."

South Coast 360 News will update this story if the departments release more details about the change.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.