Florida Considers Mandatory Dispatcher Training

In the aftermath of a kidnap-murder last year, Florida state legislators reacted to claims that dispatchers mishandled the incident by passing legislation–optional–setting out a state-wide training requirement. Legislators frankly admitted that lack of state and local funding dissuaded them from making the training mandatory. Now state Sen. Nancy Detert (R.) has introduced legislation that would turn the current suggested standard into a mandatory standard. “You’re dealing with life and death, obviously,” Detert told a reporter. The original training standard was sparked by the kidnapping of Denise Lee, who was able to make a 911 call from the car. Later, a motorist spotted an adjacent car that was later identified as the suspect’s, and reported seeing someone in trouble in the back seat. Both 911 calls might have led law enforcement to Lee more quickly, officials later admitted. Download (pdf) the proposed legislation here.