NENA Tackles Social Networking by Dispatchers

In the wake of legal action over a Facebook posting by a Wisconsin dispatcher, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) has formed a group to study the use of social networking Web sites by dispatchers, both on and off-duty. West Allis (Wisc.) dispatcher Dana Kuchler, 45, was fired earlier this year after the city learned her Facebook page included a statement that she was addicted to marijuana and various prescription drugs. She filed a union grievance over her firing, and in May an arbitrator ordered the discipline reduced to a 30-day unpaid suspension. Now the city is appealing that decision. Kuchler’s attorney says she tested negative for drugs and she included the word “Ha” in the posting, indicating it was a joke. NENA’s group intends to create an “Operations Information Document,” including the pros and cons of social network access by dispatchers, and policies that might limit or prohibit dispatchers from posting on such sites. The document could be used for reference by comm centers when developing their own policies. In the corporate world, it’s not uncommon for employees to be prohibited from identifying their employer if they post on Facebook, Twitter or other social networking sites, and to be prohibited from using such sites during work hours. Most comm centers already have policies that restrict the release of any confidential information, including details on incidents, involved people or associated criminal justice information. The trickiest area of consideration is off-duty posting of non-confidential material, but which may be considered controversial. Several agencies now consider a posting that “criticizes or ridicules” their agency, its policies or other employees as grounds for discipline, which may conflict with freedom of speech claims. The NENA group will be collecting existing policies already in use by comm centers, and hopes to have their document finished by early 2011.