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Concerns about 911 call operator staffing and unanswered calls
2:56:01
ยท
62 sec
Council Member Restler raises concerns about 911 call operator staffing levels and potential issues with unanswered calls. Commissioner Tisch acknowledges the problem and commits to addressing it as a priority for the department.
- Restler mentions reports of unanswered calls, mandatory overtime, and extended shifts for 911 operators.
- He notes that the number of operators has decreased significantly from previous levels.
- Tisch confirms that 911 call taker and dispatcher staffing levels are down considerably from when she previously oversaw the bureau.
- The Commissioner acknowledges that this issue must be addressed and assures that it will be a priority for the department.
- Restler expresses interest in working with Tisch to ensure the success of efforts to improve 911 operator staffing.
Lincoln Restler
2:56:01
The question I want to ask is just about nine one one call operators.
2:56:04
At our GovOps hearings, we've been hearing from DC thirty seven that there are calls that are going unanswered, are mandatory overtime and extended shifts, that we're down to 800 people working from a high that was much higher than that.
2:56:16
Can you give us some insight here?
2:56:18
Is this a major area of concern for you?
2:56:20
Are we answering every call?
2:56:21
What can we do for
Jessica Tisch
2:56:21
Of course.
2:56:22
So I spent the first twelve years of my career at the NYPD.
2:56:28
The majority of those years were running the Information Technology Bureau.
2:56:32
And one of the great blessings of that job was I got to work with the nine eleven call takers and dispatchers, our PCTs.
2:56:41
Their staffing levels are significantly down from when I oversaw that bureau.
2:56:46
And it was one of the first things that left out at me when I returned to the department.
2:56:52
It absolutely must be addressed, and it is definitely going to be an area of priority for this department.
Lincoln Restler
2:56:58
Okay, I would love to work with you on that to
Darcel Clark
2:56:59
help make
Lincoln Restler
2:57:00
sure that's
Althea Stevens
2:57:00
a success.
Lincoln Restler
2:57:00
So thank you very much and appreciate your testimony here today, Commissioner.
Melinda Katz
2:57:03
Thank you.