Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Freeport dispatchers tell council new mutual‑aid call procedure puts 911 callers on hold; employees and residents urge review
Summary
A dispatcher said a recent change requiring phone calls for mutual‑aid ambulance requests forces dispatchers to put in‑progress 911 callers on hold while arranging aid, a practice she called contrary to training and a liability; residents and other commenters backed dispatchers and urged city officials to meet with staff.
A Freeport 911 dispatcher told the Committee of the Whole that a recent procedural change requiring phone outreach to mutual‑aid ambulance providers forces dispatchers to place in‑progress 911 calls on hold, and she said the practice creates an unacceptable safety and liability risk.
Janelle Fokers, a Freeport Police Department dispatcher, described staffing shortages and new instructions she said had been implemented in the prior three weeks. She said when all city ambulances are on a call and a mutual‑aid ambulance is needed, the closest ambulance service…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
