The mayor of Cleveland (Ohio) has disciplined the 911 calltaker who fielded a 911 call from one of three women who escaped 10 years of captivity and torture, saying he should have been more compassionate with the woman and should have stayed on the line as police responded. In a letter released last Friday, mayor Frank Jackson announced he has issued a written reprimand to dispatcher Jack Purdy, a four-year veteran of the city’s comm center. Jackson said he considered Purdy’s work ethic and minor disciplinary history when making his decision. “After speaking with you I believe that you understand how your actions violated (the center’s) policy and I am confident that you will learn from your mistake,” the mayor wrote. It was Purdy who answered a 911 from Amanda Berry last May, reporting that she had just escaped from the home of kidnapper Ariel Castro. Police arrived within minutes and rescued Berry and two other woman, and later arrested Castro. Last month Purdy waived his right to a formal hearing, and met with Jackson to discuss the allegations that he failed to follow comm center policies. During that meeting Jackson told Purdy that, “You could have demonstrated more empathy and could have been more compassionate in your dealing with Ms. Berry.” The mayor also noted, “Without question, you should have kept her on the line as I believe that that simple, required act would have enhanced her sense of safety.” Purdy agreed to plead “no contest” to the misconduct charges, and to accept whatever discipline Jackson decided to impose. Download (pdf) the mayor’s discipline letter for more details, and listen to the 911 call here.
3 comments… add one
After 10 years, Purdy may have thought it was some kids pulling a prank?
How can they release the disciplinary letter to the public. This was a personnel issue and as such the employee should be afforded privacy as to what action was taken. In our state he would own that center for a breach of confidentiality.
I am a PSAP manager of a very small call center. I leave the decision to stay on the call up to the calltaker. There are many reasons why the calltaker could not stay on with the caller including other E911 calls in que. I have listened to the audio file and hear no reason for this calltaker to have been disciplined for the lack of compassion and not staying on until police arrived. There is no requirement for any calltaker to exibit compassion with any caller. He did his job as required and the PD was never delayed for his so called lack of compassion. This was a political decision; not an objective management decision. Shame on the mayor and the the calltakers management for throwing him under the bus!
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