Dispatcher Commendation Sparks Debate

Dane County (Wisc.) dispatcher Nathan Waite was plunged into politics when his commendation for delivering a baby was branded as a political ploy by a candidate for office. On Jan. 12th Waite helped the new father deliver his baby daughter 12 weeks prematurely along a highway. But when county executive Kathleen Falk held a press conference last Friday to spotlight Waite and his work, Falk’s political opponent Nancy Mistele blasted Falk’s motive. “I think Kathleen Falk is doing a number of things now for political gain, and this would just be one of them,” Mistele told a reporter. Falk and the Dane County comm center continue to attract criticism for their handling of a 911 call in April 2008 from the apartment of Brittany Zimmermann, who was later found murdered. Read more about Waite’s award here, and watch a TV report here.