Dispatcher Suspended in Zimmermann Murder

The dispatcher who mishandled a 911 call from the apartment of Madison (Wisc.) murder victim Brittany Zimmermann last April has been suspended for three days without pay. Dane County 911 officials made the announcement on Friday, nine months after former dispatcher Rita Gahagan answered the call and failed to hear noises that officials say should have alerted her to the need to send police. No officers were dispatched in response to the call, and Zimmermann’s boyfriend found her dead just hours later. No suspect has been identified by police. In a statement, 911 officials said Gahagan authorized the release of her personnel file after a lawsuit to compel its release, including the nature of the disciplinary action. In the disciplinary action, 911 director Kathy Krusiec said there was, “no evidence that Gahagan heard but chose not to react to sounds possibly indicating an emergency.” Instead, Krusiec attributed Gahagan’s actions to an “unintentional oversight.” Gahagan is now working for the county’s child support agency, a transfer she requested before the incident occurred. Her personnel file shows generally good performance since she was hired in 1988. A judge has ruled that the 911 call is confidential, as its release could jeopardize the on-going criminal investigation. Read more about the incident here, and more about Gahagan’s personnel file here.