The Daily Herald reported the following:
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Northwest Central Dispatchers Express "No Confidence" in Leadership
At a recent board of directors meeting in Arlington Heights, members of the union representing dispatchers for the Northwest Central Dispatch System cast a vote of "no confidence" in the agency’s leadership. The decision came after weeks of growing frustration among staff over the performance of a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system that was implemented on April 24. The system, responsible for routing emergency calls to local fire and police departments, has been plagued by technical issues that have impacted response times.
In addition to CAD problems, dispatchers have also faced challenges with outdated radio equipment and administrative policies that have contributed to high-stress working conditions, according to Rick Tracy, an executive board member of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, the union representing dispatchers.
Approximately 70 union members participated in the vote, with around 85% expressing their lack of confidence in management. “It's not just about the CAD system,†Tracy explained. “This is the result of long-standing policy changes that led this group to unionize back in February 2009.â€
Last month, a software glitch caused a 14-minute delay in responding to a potential heart attack in Palatine. At the time, Cindy Barbera-Brelle, the executive director of Northwest Central Dispatch, stated it was the first such delay since the new system went live. However, union President Jennifer Delacerda disputed that claim, saying the issue was far from isolated and that problems with the system have persisted since its launch.
“There have been ongoing issues with the system, and we've seen them as recently as last night,†she said. “These are not one-time glitches—they're systemic problems that have been building up for years.â€
Dispatchers have described the pressure as overwhelming. “When we make a mistake, it feels like our necks are on the line,†said Dawn Wolf. “Eventually, someone will be blamed, and I fear we’ll be the ones who take the fall.â€
Tim Stencel, another dispatcher, shared his own experience with the radio system, which recently caused communication breakdowns between him and officers from Hoffman Estates and Streamwood.
In response to the concerns, the board of directors and management released an open letter to employees earlier this week, acknowledging the issues and stating that they are working diligently to resolve them. “We unionized under this management. We took a strike vote under this management, and now we’ve taken a vote of no confidence,†Delacerda added.
Northwest Central serves more than 500,000 residents across several communities, including Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, and Streamwood. Meanwhile, Des Plaines, Morton Grove, Niles, and Park Ridge are considering joining the system, with each community agreeing to pay $15,000 for a feasibility study.
The full article can be read here.
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