Dispatcher’s Lawsuit Documents Profane Outbursts
A former Blair County (Penn.) public safety dispatcher has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the county, alleging sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation. Kelli Sawyers claims that when arriving at work during training in 2006, she, “always waved and smiled and said good morning to the dispatchers and to the supervisor.” But after [...]
Misdialed 911 Call Leads to Dog’s Death
A Commerce City (Colo.) police officer shot and killed a dog that was advancing towards her and that she believed was vicious, after she arrived to investigate a hang-up 911 call. An Adams County (ADCOM) dispatcher had already called the home back and spoken to the homeowner, confirming the original 911 call was a mis-dial. [...]
Legislator Introduces 911 Privacy Bill
The family of murder victim Brittany Zimmermann has convinced a Wisconsin state legislator to introduce a bill that would change how 911 logging tapes are released to the public. The Zimmermanns specifically want to prevent the release of the audio of a 911 call from Zimmermann’s apartment the day she was murdered by an unknown [...]
DA Says Dispatcher Looted Police Charity
A former Eastside Communications Center (Bellevue, Wash.) dispatcher has been charged with embezzling at least $80,000 from a police association fund for charitable contributions. Pamela Rae Heidi, 60, had served 38 years as a dispatcher before she was laid off in June 2009. She served as treasurer for the Bellevue Police Benevolent Association for four [...]
DA Says Dispatcher Looted Police Charity
A former Eastside Communications Center (Bellevue, Wash.) dispatcher has been charged with embezzling at least $80,000 from a police association fund for charitable contributions. Pamela Rae Heidi, 60, had served 38 years as a dispatcher before she was laid off in June 2009. She served as treasurer for the Bellevue Police Benevolent Association for four [...]
Man Dies After Truck Sinks in Pond
An Orange County (Fla.) man drowned after his pick-up truck swerved into a pond along the highway, despite a 911 call for help. Umberto Delgato Jr. sounded calm on the one minute, 45-second recording as he described what happened. He gave two different dispatchers his last location and direction, but struggled with a precise location. [...]
APCO Releases D Block Needs Assessment
The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) has released a report it funded to assess public safety needs in the D Block of 700 MHz spectrum. Not surprisingly, the nine-pages of analysis concluded what APCO has been advocating for two years: the D Block should be assigned to public safety as a single block [...]
APCO Releases D Block Needs Assessment
The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) has released a report it funded to assess public safety needs in the D Block of 700 MHz spectrum. Not surprisingly, the nine-pages of analysis concluded what APCO has been advocating for two years: the D Block should be assigned to public safety as a single block [...]
Trial Begins Over Dispatcher’s Claim—Forced Out
A federal court jury began hearing testimony on Monday in a civil lawsuit brought by a former Columbus (Ohio) police dispatcher who claims she was forced out of her job because she protested the department’s sick leave reporting policy. Teresa Ruby is asking for $700,000 in damages, saying her resignation came after a year of [...]
Trial Begins Over Dispatcher’s Claim—Forced Out
A federal court jury began hearing testimony on Monday in a civil lawsuit brought by a former Columbus (Ohio) police dispatcher who claims she was forced out of her job because she protested the department’s sick leave reporting policy. Teresa Ruby is asking for $700,000 in damages, saying her resignation came after a year of [...]