Dispatcher Responds To Mis-Use of Chat System

A Hamilton County (Tenn.) dispatcher who was fired for misusing the comm center’s computer chat system says she was singled out during the investigation, and that supervisors never told her what she and other dispatchers were doing was against policy. Teresa McIntosh worked at the Hamilton County 911 Unified Emergency Communications District, and was among 11 dispatchers disciplined for using the chat system for personal communications that included “disrespectful, mutinous, insolent or abusive language.” McIntosh spoke to a WRCB television news reporter about the incident, and said supervisors have known about how dispatchers were uing the system “for a long time.” She admitted the chat messages included conversations about favoritism among supervisors, including racial preferences. “There were those, both black and white, who agreed that there is favoritism with the supervisors,” she said during the interview. “As far as respect, I have given as much respect as I received,” McIntosh said. The comm center apparently does not have a specific policy on using the chat system, but disciplined the dispatchers under general provisions of the district’s Code of Conduct. Read more about interview here, and watch the video news report after the break. Update: KCCB-TV has learned more information about the situation, including the involved dispatchers’ personnel files.