By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Oct. 29, 2026) The Town of Berlin is financially backing a new police department system meant to streamline cross-agency collaboration and improve communication methods.

At its meeting Monday night, the Town Council approved the purchase of a software platform costing $50,563 that will allow Berlin police to share information more efficiently with other law enforcement agencies and interact directly with Worcester County’s 911 dispatch system.

Police Chief Howard Drewer told officials that the department’s current computer-aided dispatch (CAD), records management system (RMS), and mobile computer terminal (MCT) platforms are outdated and limit officers’ ability to share information with neighboring agencies.

The department applied for an Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to cover the upgraded system but was not selected for funding. The Town of Berlin has agreed to finance the project recognizing the modern technology’s importance in keeping the public protected.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said the purchase was not included in the town’s budget, but municipality officials believe they can absorb some of the cost through the general fund.

“We’ll probably have to monitor where our expenditures are at the end of the year,” Tyndall said.

He added that vacancies in the town’s workforce could help offset the expense.

According to Drewer, the initial cost of implementing the system is approximately $50,000, with annual operating expenses of about $21,000 for the first three years.

The department plans to join CentralSquare, a software platform already used by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocean City Police Department, and the Ocean Pines Police Department. By joining the regional system, Berlin would be able to share information directly with those agencies and make requests through their dispatch platforms.

Drewer said the department’s existing software does not adequately connect its dispatch and records management functions. Information entered into the computer-aided dispatch system does not automatically transfer to the records management system, requiring employees to enter information more than once.

The new platform would allow those systems to communicate, reducing duplicate data entry and administrative work.

Of the department’s current system, Drewer said, “It’s a step away from being a typewriter, in all honesty.”

The upgrade would also change how Berlin officers receive and respond to emergency calls dispatched through the Worcester County Emergency Services 911 Center.

Currently, Berlin personnel can view calls through a read-only interface but cannot interact directly with the information. Dispatchers must re-enter details into Berlin’s own system before sending officers to respond.

With CentralSquare, Berlin personnel would be able to work within the same system as county dispatchers, allowing them to communicate and update information more directly.

The new software would also expand the department’s access to information from other law enforcement agencies, including photographs, videos, and records of previous encounters.

During this week’s discussion, Drewer said Berlin would retain access to its existing records and data even after transitioning to the new platform.

Drewer said the department is able to reduce some of the new system’s expenses because the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to assist in training Berlin officers on the software.

“That’s better because they know how we’ll use this regionally,” Drewer said.

Human Resources Director Kelsey Jensen said the need for updated technology has also surfaced in employee exit interviews with former officers pointing out a lack of modern tech at the Berlin force.

The council approved the purchase unanimously.