July 26, 2013
By DC37 Executive Director Lilian Roberts
New York, NY – The 911 call takers DC37 represents are the first line of communication between the public and the police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel that keep our City safe. There has been a shortage of staffing at the 911 call centers for a long time. This staffing shortage has been a chronic problem for the City, and our members’ ability to do their jobs has only been made more difficult since the new 911 call-taking computer system was implemented.
Both the Mayor and the NYPD have acknowledged this staffing shortage and committed to training additional 911 operators.
Taking police officers off the streets to perform this function will not fix the problems of the 911 call system nor will it make the citizens of New York City any safer. In fact, it will make our communities less safe. What’s more, there are currently 200 qualified workers on a Civil Service list waiting to fill the position of 911 Police Communications Technicians.
