The Village of Oak Lawn outsourced their emergency dispatch center recently. CBS Chicago has an article which mentions complaints that have been brought to the village board.
During this week’s meeting of the Oak Lawn Village Board, trustee Bob Streit (3rd) brought up concerns about the emergency call center, citing a letter from Evergreen Park regarding concerns over “a series of incidents in the last several weeks” involving alleged poor service.
Oak Lawn’s emergency dispatchers handle calls for several communities, including Evergreen Park. The center was privatized this year in a cost-cutting move and many of the dispatchers lost their jobs. A letter from Evergreen Park attorney Michael Cainkar to dispatch center director Kathy Hansen expressed concern over responses to calls, including one about a man with a gun, information that allegedly was not included in what a dispatcher told police officers.
In the Feb. 24 letter, Cainkar said the “recent performance poses a direct threat to both public and officer safety.” Streit agreed, saying: “There’s more. This is the tip of the iceberg.”
During the board meeting, Streit said he and other board members were not told about the complaints by Village Manager Larry Deetjen and Mayor Sandra Bury. “This board is supposed to set policy, but it’s impossible to set policy when complaints and issues are hidden from the board. There is no excuse, especially when it comes to the safety of the public and our residents,” Streit said during the meeting.
Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton, however, said Thursday that he’s pleased with the new system and is certain problems will be worked out. “It’s not a big deal at this point,” Sexton said Thursday.
“Let me assure you that the men and women of our emergency dispatch center and our contractor, Norcomm, have nothing but the safety of this community at heart,” Deetjen said during the board meeting. “We handle over 100,000 calls a year (for several communities including Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park). We do an outstanding job, but we’re not perfect. We weren’t perfect before the change.” In previous years, issues were handled within the rules of a labor contract with workers in the 911 center “and it was never publicly discussed,” he said.
“Those are the facts because men and women are human. Have you ever listened to an emergency call? Often, words aren’t clear,” Deetjen said, adding “don’t let anyone up here scare or misinform you.” “If there were an increase in instances, if there were a change in patterns, we don’t see that,” Bury said. “To imply there were no mistakes with the former system … you’re seeing it made into something political and that’s really a shame.
thanks Dan
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#1 by Mike Mc on April 4, 2014 - 9:54 AM
Engine 4 is out and the new Ford pickup is back. Both rear crew cab doors were open while the rig was on the apparatus floor last night. That leads me to conclude that four FF’s respond with the rig. The only possiblity that I can think of is that Med 3 jumps to Squad 1 on still ararms, making it a four member flying squad.
Does anyone know for sure what the story is? Thanks in advance.
#2 by Matt on April 2, 2014 - 2:38 PM
Oak Lawn has taken the Service unit at Station 3 (shown on this site) and added a truck cap with Squad 1 markings. No idea as to the tactics or use of this rig. I know that it can be used to pull their trailers with rescue equipment.
#3 by Mike Mc on April 2, 2014 - 1:10 PM
Oak Lawn is now using reserve engine 4 as the squad. Any fans that know what is going on out there? I fear the FF’s are under an unofficial gag order not to discuss or mention anything that goes on. If I am wrong, please correct me on that! Thanks in advance for any replies.
#4 by Mike Mc on March 21, 2014 - 10:55 PM
Oak Lawn has a new squad. Does anyone have any information on the new rig? It is a Ford and it appears to be smaller than your standard light rescue. Any change to responses or tactics, now that they no longer are using an engine?
Thanks in advance.
#5 by MABAS21 on March 14, 2014 - 9:51 PM
These new dispatchers are absolutely horrible! They mess up addresses and streets constantly, dispatch the wrong stations or even worse, the wrong departments. They are not thoroghly trained and cannot operate their CAD system efficiently. One is dyslexic. It’s just a matter of time when someone dies because of them or one one us is severely injured or killed because of their incompetence! Way to go Larry and the Village of Dope Lawn!