Wednesday, October 6, 2010

E911 Center To Pay Overtime To Make Up For Furlough Days...No We Are Not Kidding

Word is coming to us that the E911 center is too short of personnel to furlough. So, in order to insure everyone is furloughed, the shortages will be covered with overtime. We suspect Sharon Sutton logic.

We are also told supervisors get first dibs on the overtime. The supervisors are not required to man a phone or dispatch console, leaving the call takers and dispatchers short and over worked.

Instead of admitting that furloughs are a bad idea, leaving the safety of the public in jeopardy, the command staff are consciously covering up this fact. We didn't see this behavior by the command of the Atlanta Police and Fire Departments. They simply told the public, because of furloughs, some calls would not be handled and some fire stations would be closed. The public became outraged, the city was forced to come up with alternate ideas, and the furloughs ended.

But here in DeKalb, we have a command staff of bobble heads, with no back bone, who continually fool the public.

But we bottom feeders are not fooled. We're just victims of trickle down lunacy.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its a self perpetuating monster. The county is spending more money to furlough us than it would if the CEO and BOC had just left us alone. Since they are spending more now the gap will be bigger next year. Next year they will make us take even more furlough days and spending even more money. Rinse and repeat.

P.S. I love how supervisors, who get paid more to not actually do any of the work, get the first crack at the OT money. Way to take care of the folks at the top first.

P.P.S. The reason that no in the command staff speaks against this to the public is because no one wants to lose their overpaid appointed position by speaking out against the folks who hold their leash. Besides I bet most of them are just holding on a couple more years so they can retire at the inflated salary of their appointed position. Why should they care about how the rest of us are screwed.

Anonymous said...

Do you ever read the manure you post?

Where did the APD command staff come out against furloughs? Sure their union reps came out against it but all the top people said they had no choice due to budget constraints. The mayor pointed fingers at the council and the council pointed back. Sound familiar? Now they did say that crime was actually down during their furlough period. Is that what you're talking about? Surely you don't want this department to model itself after APD. Why don't you go ask their rank and file how they feel about their department? The grass aint greener over there.

Also, communications doesn't fall under the "command staff" system. The communications division is supposed to have it's own boss and falls under Director Miller. It is not supposed to be under the police any longer, although I think Maj. Conroy has been stuck with that thankless job for the time being. The question should be why hasn't the county hired a competent communication director? Could it be that the salary they are offering is such a low amount that no one will take the job. Hell the county hasn't even officially named Chief Obrien as the chief. This goes along with all the other "acting" department heads.

Here's a good idea. Why doesn't the almighty blogmaster come up with some real solutions? Why don't you write up some proposals on how to "fix" the department and better yet write up a budget that can finance your plan. Then show us who would be your command staff to implement your grand scheme and then maybe you'll have some credibility. We'll even let you stay anonymous, just post it here and let the voters see it. Then when they name you the director/chief or emperor you can step out into the light for all the world to see and then bow to your highness.

Your extreme bias and false innuendo's hurt us more than they help. Instead of being part of the solution you're fast becoming part of the problem.

Anonymous said...

The supervisors, if they are coming in to work overtime, must be required to work a console and either answer phone calls or work radio. They USED to be a line operator, so act like one if you are going to be there for that purpose....simple

Anonymous said...

I believe the 911 centers shortfalls have already been well documented. Why don't we find the truth as to where all the 911 charges from cell phones is actually being spent. Furloughs are in the best interest of anyone. The citizens nor the officers depending on someone listening when we call for help. The citizens must wake up and demand changes. As for the command staff you are exactly correct, Atlanta's commanders had balls and publicized the truth. These appointed puppets don't want to lose that fat check and all the perks. I feel as though a lawsuit may be coming for not providing adequate public safety in DeKalb. We all know that citizens have already lost their lives due to this chaos. This blood needs to be placed on the hands of the CEO & BOC. Instead they continually give us shortfalls to work with and when anything goes wrong throw the line workers under the bus. Go public and say what these bad rogue employees caused instead of saying that our poor decisions and lack of leadership was to blame. Just remember Atlanta got their raises, reopened their stations and are retaining more personnel. Every Citizen in DeKalb county is at risk due to this incompetent leadership. Not much return for the some of the highest taxes around. Just like Dunwoody we soon will see Tucker, Brookhaven, Stonecrest, Emory, etc. go on their own so that they can balance their budgets and protect their citizens.

Anonymous said...

C'mon man what kind of idiots are we dealing with. Furlough an employee one day and then pay them overtime the following day. Hopefully the news media gets a hold of this one. The county is spending more money on overtime to furlough Officers between the Sheriffs Department and now this. Makes sense to me. Wow its rediculous the BOC is clueless.

Anonymous said...

Whether the 911 center is under its own seperate funding or not, the department has not been run fiscally responsibly. To allow supervisors to be assigned an overtime slot and then not demand that they actually work under the same guidelines as every other 911 operator is a joke, i.e. 5 to 10 min breaks, no eating or conducting personal business on the job, and cell phone usage. The supervisors do not work police or fire radios. They may answer a 911 call when the counter indicates calls pending but many forget where they came from once they are promoted. We need management that leads by design and intergrity. That is and has been lacking for quite some time.

Anonymous said...

How many operators could be paid to work overtime in lieu of one shift supervisor at their higher pay rate at time and a half? My guess is two or three operators. Let those who do the work be first to get the over time slots. A supervisor working overtime should be on hand to fill in those unfilled spots to ensure their department is manned and staffed adequately. The difference between 911 and uniform division is when calls are back up, radio can actually assign a sergeant or lt a call to handle. Uniform division works to get the job done and calls handled. They back one another. In 911, supervisors dont work a radio in order for their personnel to take bathroom break much less work it in a time of crisis. I can see them not giving breaks if their is only one supervisor on duty but that is not the case. Most time there have been two supv on duty and a watch commander. They dont have their subordinates backs. (Actually I know there are those who probably put imaginery targets on their employees backs. Management thru fear and intimidation.) There needs to be some changes so that everyone in the 911 room is ready, willing and able to work all positions when called upon and help one another. If a supervisor says they can do it, MAKE THEM PROVE IT!!! WORK TUCKER RADIO OR FIRE DISPATCH........

Anonymous said...

Just like the ticket slow down with uniform...can you imagine if the county was forced to furlough all 911 employees 4 days before Dec 11 and not have overtime to cover those unmanned slots. There may come a time when the county rethinks the furloughs when it comes to those essential employees who have to work 24/7. Essential means the county cant run without them so why put them under the same umbrella as those who are not deemed essential. Stop all furlough days for Fire/Police and 911.

Anonymous said...

Any of this sound familiar? kinda like the problem our federal government is having trying to figure out how to sustain our economy

Anonymous said...

You know where this really hurts? all of those new Officer's that were recently hired. It is hard for a new Officer to listen to all of this financial trouble we are having as a Department. It makes morale lower and forces good Officer's to leave the Department because they can't afford to hang around and watch their benefits disappear. And where does that leave us, 100 men shorter because the Department paid for their training and after 2 years they leave and go to another agency that has a Commissioner's board that isn't filled with morons and scam artist that does all they can to support the men and women who protect and serve.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone confirm or deny the rumor that we are going to be furloughed 17 days next year? Just curious...

Anonymous said...

I wish Major Conroy would talk to communications operator's about this problem..there is a systemic epidemic in E911. Let me break it down...
1)I(me)don't care that supervisor's get overtime,however I have a problem when they are not in que,standing up at position laughing and talking,toting a cup of coffee to and from the office back to there console not taking a call.

2)One supervisor who shall remain anonymous who comes in everyday that she works at 0645,0647,0648 and then go to roll-call,if you write me up for running late and hold my feet to the fire then you should be HELD to the same standards..it is documented on a daily basis what time she waltz into the comm center.They have the attitude that I'm in management and I can do that!! No you can't it is not fair and you will get busted!

3)A supervisor should always keep his/her RADIO SKILLS CURRENT AND UP TO DATE..not sit on A/C RADIO AT 0530hrs because Fire asked for a restroom and that is the ONLY thing they can work and at that time of morning there is no voice traffic on A/C..
4)The one and only Watch Commander we have, I will say will take calls when the 911 calls start pending,however PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make your supervisor's do the same,while you are chasing me down because I have to go to the restroom because I have been holding it for an hour,you could have taken 2-3 calls.
The supervisor's have this idea that "because I'm management..I don't have to take calls". While you are "thinking" that.. the citizen's of DeKalb sure as hell don't want to hear that!!! On a side note, please stop running over to my radio when you hear something going on,you talking,officers talking..who do you think I'm listening too? We can run our radio's..which is something you can't so please GO SIT DOWN,GO BACK IN THE OFFICE AND GOSSIP (or continue to sit at Position 1 and gossip).
SOMEONE PLEASE COME AND HELP US!!!!

Anonymous said...

This blog and the blog master are the only voice we have ever had about anything at DKPD....EVER...sure, there is some BS posted here but for the vast most part all the bitches are legit. People complaining about just about everything is indicitative of how very screwed up this place is and has been for many years. It is also indicitative of NEVER having a voice on anything and having to put up with complete stupidity from every direction. Put some ex military guys with some balls in charge of this place for once ...Damn !!!

Anonymous said...

My God! If they put a former military man in charge you all would whine about that too. I can hear it now "dis ain't no military, who he think he talkin to like dat". Slang and poor grammar intended. This place sucks because of poor decisions from Decatur hamstringing chief O. Then on the flip side, most everyone bitches about almost every decision O makes.

And the issues in communications...those rest right at the feet of the Director.

Anonymous said...

Again I ask--Why is 911 being furloughed anyway since their salaries are paid with 911 fees?? The comm center is in the same boat as DKSO-- their budget has nothing to do with the County budget.

Anonymous said...

The OT is not in the place of the furloughs. 911 has been getting OT for a long time. So in a week where they would be "off" (furloughed) who says they can't come in on that off day and work OT which will go in as straight time anyway, since you cant get OT when you dont have 40 regular hours. Man, yall get you panties in a wod over the smallest things. Their budget is different and they are short, they have to do something. Stop whining and come up with solutions, or better yet go to another agency and stop compaining here.

Anonymous said...

We need to start handing out the phone numbers of commissioners. When citizens are mad because we took too long getting to a call because of manpower and 911 center issues, tell them to call their commissioner. and complain about it. When someone is really grateful for something we did for them, ask them to call their commissioner and ask why they a treating officers so poorly. Flood their offices with calls.

Anonymous said...

Their salaries are no longer paid with the 911 tax on the phone bills. That money is put into the general budget, then doled out by the commissioners.

It was changed years ago. And it's probably illegal.

Anonymous said...

17 days furloughed next year. You are kidding, right? If that's the case, my husband will take his 15 years and walk out the door. I'd rather him take a pay cut somewhere else and work in a decent department rather than have his pay cut again and again only to be shot at (3 times that I know of) and risk the possibility of losing him. Dekalb - you will get what you deserve in the long run, you will

Anonymous said...

Anonymous #3 RIGHT ON. Anonymous #? with the poor grammar "...dis aint no military who they talkin' tooo like dat...." LOL. BLOG MASTER, where did you get your information from ? I have lost some respect and your credibility has definately gone out the window. 911 HAS BEEN WORKING OT FOR QUIIITE SOME TIME. It was NOT implemented all of a sudden to make up for the furlough days smart one. It's business as freakin' usual in the 911 center, SHORT STAFFED=OVERTIME. Even shorter staffed now that they have furlough days, still ='s OVERTIME! What part of this is confusing, or seemingly underhanded or unfair? YES the 911 budget is SEPERATE from the general Dekalb County budget, DO YOU REALLY THINK THE BOC WOULD FURLOUGH , THEN BECAUSE THEY CARE SO MUCH, GRACIOUSLY PAY THE OPERATORS RIGHT BACK FOR THE 10 HOURS BECAUSE THE OP WORKED OT??? c'mon guys, THINK. Nobody gives a rats a** about that place and the part about "supervisors getting first dibs..." you are sooo off. waay off base, you really have no idea what you are talking about, do you??? Supervisors sign up and work OT just as a regular operator does. Now, they are "required" to man a phone while on OT (answer 911 calls), they can't man a radio because NONE OF THE SUPERVISORS CAN WORK A RADIO.PERIOD..AT ALL. EVER.DON'T KNOW HOW TO! OK? so the fact that they come in and sip coffee and hang out in the office while on the clock making OT $$ and the other 100+ issues up in communications IS -> PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR WIZ MILLER's issue, *the fish stinks from the head* is what my dad's fishing buddy used to always say.....AND TRUST ME..IT STINKS!!!!!!!! shut this blog down....seriously

Anonymous said...

The BOC is what should be shut down. Their day is coming soon. Commisions all around us are being discovered to be crooks, just look at Fulton County who now is the latest to be discovered as corrupt. Dekalb BOC your day is almost here lets just hope that the County is not bankrupt before then. Keep up the trail of corruption.

Anonymous said...

To the person mad at the blog, get over it. It you vent in person we all know what position you rapidly will hold. Thanks to Wiz Miller for meeting with all of us when you became director. All it accomplished was get us out of work for 20 minutes to sit down with you. Nothing has changed other than another high paid salary being implemented. The problems at com center are just like the problems in uniform, management not employees. This management deficiency starts at the head of the county and flows down from there. Can anyone, media? , clarify how 911 charges are to be used and budgeted. You'd be surprised how many issues brought up on this blog have turned out to be true!

Anonymous said...

so what happened to the hiring of the E-911 Director to come in and run the center?

Anonymous said...

One day I hope we have the honor to praise the person who started this blog.
This has more impact than anyone could image.

Anonymous said...

I know most of you don't give a rat's ass about the white shirts. However, many of the Lt white shirts work hard and do an outstanding job. I say this because some of these Lts have been slapped in the face. How the hell does Wiz and OB justify allowing Lts with one year of experience to take the Capt test?? The reason is so obvious it's sickening. An MPO with one year of experience would not be allowed to take the Sgts test. Same for one year Sgts. taking the Lt test. Senority does not matter. I know it hasn't mattered in a while, but this is the icing on the cake.

Anonymous said...

Just like the ticket strike lets join together and be a mass No Show for the rediculous Police Ball. They dont support or back us so why should we support them in their Dog & Pony show.

Anonymous said...

I heard that the commissioners have on next Tuesday's agendat to give millions of additional dollars to some elected official departments such as Sheriff, Superior Court and Sup Court Clerk, District Attorney and others since they overspent (probably giving huge raises too like the commissioners) and won't have enough money for the year. Worst yet, I hear these same departments aren't taking furloughs. We beat cops are taking a beating in pay so they others don't have to take furloughs. Call all your friends in all departments to picket the meeting on Tuesday, and write and call the commissioners. How many of the commissioner's staff are taking furloughs? The letter that came from Stogner said the merit system will be tracking the furlough time, well let's see.

Anonymous said...

ME 2 !

Anonymous said...

The only good thing about furloughs is that maybe the public will feel a little bit of what us officers have been taking with the pay cuts. Cut our pay, you get a cut in service.

Someone said that the CEO memo from R Stogner to management told them not to increase overtime to make up for furlough days. If they are doing this, then not only is it stupid (because you costing more money), then it is apparently against policy!

Remember that our chief is appointed and only acting. He can stand up for us to a certain extent, but will get canned too if he steps over the line.

What is this crap about giving these other departments extra money so they don't have to do furloughs...WTF! What about public safety!? Are these same departments not going to take the 17 or 19 furlough days next year too?!! Get on the horn to the FOP, call your friends in other departments and get those picket signs ready!

Anonymous said...

Obvious is an understatement why dont we just put her name out there. Congrats on your next Capt. (V.L.).

Anonymous said...

Well people you can best believe that if it comes too picking and choosing who gets furloughed the Police Department will be on top of that list.
The citizens need to be made aware that Officers are not patroling their neighborhoods or issuing citations due to the lack of morale created by the BOC. Violent crime is rising and the County is deteriorating all because the BOC has a great dislike for Police Officers, probably due to some of the wistle blowing on this blog. Keep up the good work and stay out of sight and safe.

Anonymous said...

1.overtime was in place long before talk of the F bomb 2. the center is severly understaffed as it is so I encourage anyone to come to th ecenter for 10 hours and work a radio to "make up" the furlough day.. I will loan you my headseat and work off a talkie.. come one come all.. dont complain about the overtime.. we dont answer the calls.. who will.. lets pray that none of your family members do notget the GOD aweful recording because oher operators want to "stick it to the BOC" and not do overtime.. .. -Dispatch Diva

Anonymous said...

Dispatch diva- why don't you come get into a unit and go to a violent 87 by yourself because your backup is on a furlough day. Quit your bitching about an understaffed call center; what does it matter if the 911 calls are answered if there are no officers to respond? Go back to gossiping and doing your nails....

Anonymous said...

The issue is the overtime pay for a furloughed employee. Yes the furlough employee is loosing one days pay but another employee is being paid time and a half to make up for the furloughed employee. Either way you look at the county is paying extra. Leave the furlough days out of those departments deemed essential like police/fire/ems and 911. They deal with life and death issue each and every day. And yes the 911 center has been allowed to pay overtime in order to man an understaffed department. HOWEVER, paying a supervisor time and half in lieu of those operators who man the stations day in and day out is wrong. Use the supervisor as last resort and the county will still save money.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't bitching about the understaffed center... Get it right... I'm bitching about you whining about our OT. Granted you all need it too but I was making the point that I come to work..I Work my radio and man the phones on my regular day and my off days because I CARE. if I don't do it who will... I cringe at the notion of someone being on hold in a TRUE emergency. It could be MY family member needing EMS.. We don't just answer and dispatch police calls. Please get it right. We are not bitter the bitter bitches you all make us out to be. Don't get me wrong I feel for you going to that violent 87 and I'll send 151 to the 390's if I could get away with it to back you to make sure YOU and your back up get to go HOME after your shift.......now that I am off my soap box.... We all need to start being PROACTIVE as opposed to being REACTIVE by tearing each other down on the blog. And as far as me loaning out my headset...take it... I had no problem with anyone taking a couple of calls to make up for a furlough.... Hell It might just take the hump out of our backs for one day ..... DISPATCH DIVA

Anonymous said...

When did this become a site for radio operators to vent? Really!! Why are the posts lately so long?

DeKalb Officers said...

Radio Operators are more then welcomed to post here. We are sympathetic to their plight.

Believe it or not, we are all on the same team. Maybe if you would get over the "us vs them" mentality, things would run a little smoother.

Don't forget, they work for the same incompetent command staff as we do. The same command staff that is headed up by the invisible Wiz Miller, who bows before the commissioners.

Your basic dispatcher has no more control over their inept command staff and patched together equipment, then your beat officer working in the streets with inadequate equipment and sparse back up.

Anonymous said...

I myself have called radio out over the air...Cause she was in the wrong, but in retro-spect I still respect the job. If their attitudes were a lil' different when talking to us over the mike we all would probably get along much better. The 2 best operators we have are the older guys, they are patient, they 10-62 us regularly, they are monotone and I never sense a state of sarcasm, attitude, or stress. They are very PROFESSIONAL and could careless about who said what about them, and their baby momma's. Keep up the good work guys in radio, not saying that all the females have issues....There are some good female operators too, all i'm saying is loose the attitude, we are here to do a job that not everyone can or is willing to do. And like some operators quit holding the 41's for the officer you don't like and assigning them to him 2-4 in a row. Those operators who KDT their favorite officers or make deals with them at the begining of the shift need to stop, and don't deny it cause I'm one of ya'lls favorites.

Anonymous said...

to the dekalb officers comment on the blog..I could not agree with you more...your comment hit the nail right on the head....we are all in this ugly mess together...my goal at night as a radio operator is to make sure all my guys and gals go home to their families period...nothing else matters...we have to all watch out for each other no one else is.

Anonymous said...

DeKalbOfficers, seriously? You promote "us vs them".