The City of North Wildwood is considering a Shared Services Agreement (SSA) with the County of Cape May to move all public safety call answering, dispatch, and related services for all calls to the County’s Dispatch Center. If the SSA is approved, County Dispatch services for the City of North Wildwood would begin February 1, 2025.

North Wildwood’s population varies by season, so the need for dispatch services grows with the massive summer population influx. Unfortunately, the current City dispatch resources, including manpower and the constant need for equipment upgrades, has made it difficult to meet the peak demand.

Since at least 2020, with these issues in mind, City of North Wildwood officials have explored ideas to consolidate dispatch services, including with other municipalities in the Wildwoods. The Cape May County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) also presented the idea of utilizing County Dispatch for all Public Safety Telecommunications.

The Cape Mays, Wildwood Crest, Lower Township, Middle Township, Stone Harbor, and Avalon currently use County Dispatch services. In addition, Sea Isle City is considering joining in January 2025. North Wildwood City Public Safety Officials took numerous tours, conducted analyses of response time and costs, and had meaningful discussions with the County OEM Administration, which includes new OEM Coordinator and recently retired Middle Township Police Chief Christopher Leusner. Collectively, North Wildwood City Administration and all Public Safety departments (Police, Fire, and Beach Patrol) now feel comfortable making a transition to the County Dispatch Center while not having major impact to our City’s residents and visitors.

Should the transition take place, the North Wildwood Police Department will work with the County OEM to gather accurate address data for all properties located within the City. In addition, all North Wildwood Public Safety Telecommunicators will be given the option to work in the same capacity for the County via the New Jersey Civil Service Commission Intergovernmental Transfer Process.