Update: Dispatcher Fired for Neglect of Duty

The chief of the North Port (Fla.) police department has announced that dispatcher Nadia Kashitskaya has been fired for violating procedures and neglect of duty, in connection with her handling of a 911 call on Dec. 11th reporting a vehicle accident. During an interview, chief Terry Lewis held back tears while telling reporters that Kashitskaya is, “a fine and decent person. She cares about her community and made a mistake.” But Lewis said he also recognized that the incident, “has significantly damaged citizen confidence in our system, in our call handling and in our police department.” Lewis has asked two other agencies to review the comm center’s training methods and review dispatcher skills. Kashitskaya fielded a 911 call from a caller reporting a man on the ground along a rural road. When the caller couldn’t provide a specific address and suggested sending a police unit out to the area,Kashitskaya replied, “Unfortunately our system doesn’t work like that. I have to have something.” No police responded, and the same person called back the next day with a better address. Arriving police found Brian Wood, 55, dead on the pavement. Read more about the firing here. Opinion: Read a newspaper columnist’s opinion on the firing and follow-up action. Latest: On Jan. 20, 2010 the police chief denied an appeal of his action, meaning that Kashitskaya can appeal to the city manager.