Brown County Dispatch. PC: Fox 11 Online
BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Concern over staffing levels, morale and public safety continue to mount at the Brown County 911 dispatch center.
“It’s not about placing blame on anyone, but when you’re looking at experienced dispatchers, and we all have these concerns, and we all have these questions, and those concerns keep getting dismissed. Eventually, in anything long-term, you lose hope. You lose respect. You lose your loyalty, and you walk away,” said Sheila Pieschek.
For more than 20 years, Pieschek has worked in the Brown County 911 dispatch center. She said there have been tough times over the years with long shifts, staffing issues and technology problems, but the current conditions are the worst she and other long-term dispatch employees have ever dealt with.
According to Pieschek, “At the beginning of the year, our number one in seniority — and this doesn’t happen in public safety — our number one in seniority, 29 years experience, departed. Not to retire, but to go to a different dispatch center for less pay and lesser seniority.”
Just last week, a letter was sent from first responders and their unions to the Brown County Board of Supervisors and members of the county’s Public Safety Committee, urging improvements to recruitment and retention.
Dispatchers are a vital part of emergency response, serving as the first point of contact in crises and providing critical coordination for law enforcement, fire and EMS. Current staffing shortages have created excessive workloads, forced overtime and unsafe conditions, increasing the risk of errors that could impact both responders and the public.
“Obviously, we got the letter of support from the police and fire, and we do have various members of the board that are absolutely in support and wanting to take more of a deep dive into what’s happening. So, hopefully, we can make more progress and build our center to be a little more cohesive again,” said Pieschek.
Last week in a statement, Brown County Public Safety Communications Director Chancy Huntzinger downplayed the concerns, saying:
Eight individuals have been hired and are currently being trained for these positions, two of which we anticipate will complete their training within the next two weeks. In addition, the County continues to utilize outside employee resources as appropriate while training occurs. Current staffing levels have not created unsafe conditions, and our turnover rate is below the national average for 911 center operators.
In September, the dispatch center make plans for traveling dispatchers working in Brown County. That program that is still being utilized to help with ongoing staffing shortages.
Comments