Q&A
Discussion on 911 call operator staffing challenges
1:48:16
·
105 sec
Council Member Restler raises concerns about 911 call operator staffing issues, including mandatory overtime and unanswered calls. DCAS officials were unaware of these specific issues, but OLR representatives mention ongoing efforts to address recruitment and retention challenges for 911 operators.
- A pilot program with compressed work schedules is underway for 911 operators
- OLR meets regularly with DC 37 and NYPD to address staffing issues
- A new local union specifically represents 911 operators
Lincoln Restler
1:48:16
Great.
1:48:17
Thank you so much, chair De La Rosa.
1:48:19
And I have a bunch of different things I was hoping to dig in on.
1:48:24
And colleagues, council member Salaam, please feel free to jump in again if you'd like to ask some additional questions.
1:48:31
Deputy commissioner Porter, I was just struck by Henry Garrido's testimony about 911 call operators.
1:48:39
I am genuinely concerned about the public safety implications, people working 16 hour shifts, mandatory overtime, calls not being answered.
1:48:50
Are you aware of these issues?
1:48:52
Were you aware of them prior to his testimony?
Katrina Porter
1:48:55
No.
1:48:55
That that was the first time I heard anything of of that sort.
Lincoln Restler
1:48:58
And not to put you on the spot, but just to think with us today, we're certainly gonna be following up and doing our best to try and help address this issue.
1:49:08
Any suggestions for ways that DCAS can help?
Katrina Porter
1:49:11
So we do work very closely with, the I believe they're in the Office of Innovation and Technology, the the no.
1:49:18
That's 311.
1:49:19
Sorry.
1:49:20
I scratched that.
1:49:20
Alright.
1:49:21
We'll look into it.
Lincoln Restler
1:49:22
Okay.
1:49:22
Good.
1:49:23
We look forward to working together on that.
Daniel Pollak
1:49:25
I'll just add something here.
1:49:26
Apologies, house member.
1:49:27
So just, OLR has been deeply involved in conversations with DC 37 about 911 operators.
1:49:33
You know, we know it's a challenging job, and we have worked with them to try to find ways creative ways to improve recruitment retention.
1:49:41
There's currently a a pilot program, underway that has compressed work schedules there.
1:49:47
We meet on a regular basis with them, as well as NYPD to to try to address it.
1:49:51
We know that
Lincoln Restler
1:49:52
Which is the primary local involved?
Daniel Pollak
1:49:54
You know, it's a new local that represents just 9 one op one operators.
1:49:58
I don't recall the.
1:49:59
It used to be local 1549.
1:50:01
They split off.
Lincoln Restler
1:50:01
Right.
