OXFORD — Oxford and Miami University police officials are meeting with a consultant this week to determine what functions the two departments could share to save money.

        “We'll look at our dispatching and Miami's and some other things,” said Oxford Chief Steve Schwein. “It will probably take three months to get it to come before council. We're looking to be more efficient and improve communication by possibly sharing a facility, equipment and other things.”

        The consultant, Schema Systems of Whittier, Calif., is examining the feasibility of combining operations in dispatching, records management and the sharing of personnel and equipment, among other tasks, said Glen A. Marin, company president.

        The idea, discussed for a number of years, is becoming more attractive because operating costs for manpower and maintenance are rising. The two departments must maintain two separate dispatching areas to serve an overlapping constituency, the chief said.

        Schema Systems will study the departments' dispatching operations, looking at services offered, workload, scheduling, equipment, facilities, spatial requirements, planned technological enhancements and the potential compatibility of the two operations.

        “There has been a long-standing cooperation between the two departments,” said Holly Wissing, spokeswoman for Miami University. “This would just take it one step further.”

        In his correspondence with the city, Mr. Marin said a logical component of the plan would be “the acquisition of an 800 MHz mobile radio system. ... Because of the costs associated with such modern radio systems, a modular, phased design approach, allowing use by any or all of the public safety agencies in the area, will be considered.”

        Schema submitted a low bid of $29,400 to conduct the study.

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