City of Wildwood Joins County Central Dispatch OEM Director Leusner highlights upgrades to Dispatch Center The Cape May County Board of Commissioners approved a Shared Services Agreement with the City of Wildwood for dispatch services at the Board’s May 27th meeting. The state-of-the-art County Dispatch Center, located at the Cape May County Airport, manages emergency calls, dispatches first responders (such as police, fire, and EMS), and coordinates essential services during emergencies. The Dispatch Center operates under the leadership of OEM Director Chris Leusner. The City of Wildwood prioritized the safety of its residents and visitors in their decision-making process. Cost savings are also a significant factor. The 5-year shared services agreement anticipates operational savings of $2.4 to $2.9 million. Wildwood will also realize savings of up to $2.5 million dollars by avoiding the ongoing costs to replace outdated operating systems and communications infrastructure. “This agreement is a win-win for our County Dispatch Center and the taxpayers of Wildwood,” County Commission Director Len Desiderio said. “With North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest already utilizing the County Dispatch platform, the addition of Wildwood enhances our regional approach to allocation of services to better serve our communities at the most affordable cost to our taxpayers.” Wildwood joins twelve other Cape May County municipalities currently under agreement with the county for dispatch services: 1. Cape May 2. West Cape May 3. Cape May Point 4. Wildwood Crest 5. Stone Harbor 6. Avalon 7. Sea Isle City 8. Middle Township 9. Lower Township 10. North Wildwood 11. Dennis Township-joining October 1 12. Woodbine-joining October 1 13. Wildwood-joining January 1, 2026 The Center also coordinates all dispatching for the Cape May County Sheriff's Department and Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. The City of Wildwood prioritized the safety of its residents and visitors in their decision-making process. With the safety of residents at the forefront of all decision-making, the City worked closely with the Wildwood Police and Fire departments to conduct extensive studies and analysis over the past few years to determine the best course of action. The Center is currently staffed with thirty-nine full-time Communications Operators and two part-time Communications Operators. In anticipation of Wildwood joining the county system in January 2026, Director Leusner is preparing to hire an additional thirteen Communications Operators. Several of Wildwood’s current Dispatchers will be transitioning to the County Dispatch team. The transition to a regional model at the Cape May County Central Dispatch Center significantly streamlines the call-taking process by assigning Communications Operators to broader regions rather than individual municipalities. This approach allows operators to manage calls more efficiently by focusing on a defined geographic area with shared characteristics and resources, reducing the complexity and fragmentation that can occur when handling multiple separate municipalities. “This regional model enhances productivity by enabling quicker call prioritization, more effective resource allocation, and improved coordination during high call volumes or multi-jurisdictional incidents,” Leusner said. “It also balances workloads across the team, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring calls are answered promptly and accurately.” In a report provided to the Board of Commissioners, Leusner highlighted steps his team has taken to streamline and modernize the operation of the Dispatch Center. 1. Revamped training regime, implementing an academy-style model for new hires. 2. Selection of a vendor to introduce artificial intelligence into the call-taking process and training. 3. Utilization of the most current 9-1-1 technology to ensure efficient and effective emergency response. 4. Implementation of Text-to-9-1-1 services to offer a crucial communication link for those unable to make voice calls during emergencies. 5. Continued improvements to the county radio network to provide a more reliable and expanded coverage area. 6. Meeting best practice standards for tracking calls for service and records development. 7. Offering E-Dispatch service. First responders receive a text message with call details, ensuring seamless communication and comprehensive emergency management. 8. Funding for a Mobile Communications Van, a state-of-the-art resource that brings the full capabilities of the dispatch center directly into the community. Leusner expressed gratitude to his leadership team and thanks to Director Desiderio and the entire Board for their unwavering support of Public Safety and their willingness to fund the ongoing improvements to the Dispatch Center. (fb)

Cape May County Honors Fallen Heroes at 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony On Monday, May 27, 2025, Cape May County proudly hosted its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Gerald M. Thornton Veterans Cemetery to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. The solemn program was led by the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners: Director Leonard C. Desiderio, Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski, Commissioner Bobby Barr, Commissioner Melanie Collette, and Commissioner Will Morey, each representing the County with pride and respect during this meaningful tribute. Highlights of the ceremony included welcoming and closing remarks by Director Desiderio; an invocation and benediction by Father Miles Barrett, Commander, USN (Ret.); and a flag salute led by Commissioner Melanie Collette. The John Walter Cape Community Band performed both the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Remarks were delivered by Commissioner Bobby Barr; Sergeant Thomas P. LaRosa, USMC, Vietnam Veteran and Petty Officer Richard Lomax, Navy Corpsman, Vietnam Veteran. Captain Warren D. Judge, Commander, USCG TRACEN Cape May before his speech, invited all in attendance to join him in doing push-ups as a physical expression of respect and remembrance for the fallen, a powerful and unifying moment that underscored the day’s significance. The Presentation of the Wreaths was carried out by Vice-Director Bulakowski and the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps. Ceremonial honors, including the Presentation of Colors, Full Staffing of the Colors, Rifle Volley, and Taps, were performed by the USCG Ceremonial Detail TRACEN Cape May. Cape May County extends its deepest gratitude to all who attended and participated in this meaningful observance. Together, we continue to honor the memory of those who gave all in service to our nation. #CapeMayCounty #MemorialDay2025 #HonorAndRemember #Veterans #PublicService #GeraldMThorntonVeteransCemetery (fb)