Posts Tagged Chapter 351 of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police

Oak Lawn outsourcing of emergency dispatch – update

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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Oak Lawn to outsource emergency dispatch services

CBS Chicago has an article about the decision by Oak Lawn to outsource their emergency dispatch services:

Oak Lawn’s 911 center is going private this week, the Southtown Star is reporting.

Village manager Larry Deetjen announced at last week’s village board meeting that the center will be run by a private company as of Wednesday, now that a tentative agreement has been reached between the village and the union for the dispatchers.

“In essence, the agreement reached will settle any and all disputes and claims between the parties,” Deetjen said, referring to two unfair labor practice charges filed by Chapter 351 of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police against the village.

“We had an excellent mediator from the Illinois Labor Relations Board who listened to the facts. That’s what it ought to be, labor and management talking to each other,” Deetjen said, adding that he could not discuss details of the agreement until after Chapter 351’s board approves the settlement.

The details are expected to be disclosed at the Jan. 28 village board meeting, according to the village.

During last week’s board meeting, Trustee Bob Streit (3rd) expressed concern about how many of the 20 dispatchers will be retained by Norcomm Public Safety Communications. Deetjen said some would stay on but he did not know exactly how many. “Some will continue on as employees of Norcomm, and others will accept positions in the public or private sector at their own choice,” Deetjen said. “It will still remain a regional emergency call center.”

Besides Oak Lawn, the 911 center handles police calls for Bridgeview, Burbank and Evergreen Park and fire calls for Bedford Park and the Central Stickney Fire Protection District.

thanks Dan

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