Mayor’s 911 Call Creates Controversy

When Akron (Ohio) mayor Don Plusquellic dialed 911 to report someone injured from a sidewalk fight, he expected a dispatcher to answer immediately. Instead, he heard a recording that told him to stay on the line. After three more calls, he reached a dispatcher, and eventually talked to a comm center sergeant, telling him, “This stuff that somebody calls and there’s no answer and a recording has got to stop.” He told the sergeant to, “Get everything in order so you can report to (Chief) Gilbride” tomorrow morning.” The calls and his behavior when officers arrived has sparked criticism from the police officer’s union, who says the mayor overstepped his authority at the scene. Comm center director George Romanoski says officers arrived within 3 minutes of the first 911 call. As for 911 calls going to a queue, he said that 15 of the comm center’s 65 positions are unfilled (23%), and the budget doesn’t allow hiring right now. Read more about the dust-up here, read the transcript of the calls here, and listen to the three 911 calls. here