Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Privacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident raises privacy concerns, questions 911 response and police-employer contacts
Summary
A resident named Christine told the council she received no response to a July 22 voicemail, alleged city employees discussed a personnel matter publicly in violation of federal law, described a delayed 911 response on July 20, and asked whether police policy allows contacting callers' employers; staff encouraged follow-up and offered to review call records.
During public comment at the Lead City Council meeting, Christine raised multiple concerns about employee conduct and emergency response.
Christine said she had left a voicemail for city staff on July 22 and received no reply. She said she and her husband received a letter from the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation related to a private matter that, she said, made clear federal law prohibits public release of the information. Christine asked whether city employees had discussed private personnel matters publicly and whether the city has a code of conduct for employees; the mayoral presider (Speaker 1) said personnel issues should go through proper channels and are not discussed in open meetings.
Christine also said she placed a 911 call on July 20 at 4:56 p.m., reported waiting 15–20 minutes in a parking lot with her children before an officer arrived, and asked whether Lead police policy allows contact with a caller’s employer in cases where no citation was issued. Law-enforcement representatives (Speaker 5 and others) replied that it depends on circumstances and offered to look up the call record and meet with Christine to review details. Staff repeatedly invited Christine to provide details and follow up through proper personnel channels.
No formal finding or directive was issued during the meeting; council members advised Christine to pursue the matter through staff and file any formal personnel complaint as appropriate. Speaker 1 offered to follow up after the meeting and asked Christine to provide her phone number.
