Fight Tapes Released– 51 Calls

Chicago officials have released logging tapes of 51 calls made to 911 over almost 30 minutes to report a fight in a city park that seriously injured several persons last July. The calls raise even more questions about the delayed response to Durkin Park. The first call at 10:17 p.m. reported kids with long bats, and subsequent calls reported fights and an SUV running down people in the park. Tony Ruiz, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication, said two dispatchers were suspended for mis-handling the incident, one for 20 days, the other for 15 days. Interestingly, no units were dispatched until an officer from another district was telephoned by his son from the scene, and that officer radioed in the incident. Several persons have filed lawsuits against the city over the slow response.