Task force radio not working unsung full#
And the public deserves full confidence, so that's where we're going to put our focus right now."Īlong with O'Leary, a new task force will include Tucson's police and fire chiefs, as well as staff members and union representatives to ensure that all voices are being heard, according to Ortega. "It's never a bad thing to take a hard look at yourself and make your center better. "All inaccuracies aside, we know there are issues that we need to continue to address," O'Leary said. O'Leary also said the reporting of inconsistent discipline was inaccurate and didn't show that, in most cases, the same person was being disciplined for multiple infractions. While they agreed there are several workplace issues that need to be addressed, O'Leary and Ortega said many of the claims were "inaccurate or misleading." For example, O'Leary said the comment about the LGBTQ community was made by a disgruntled employee who was being terminated for violating the department's bullying policy. "We've spent the last 11 months since I've been here working through those very overarching issues, which include employee morale, staffing as well as the perception of how employees are treated.
"We're not surprised to see those challenges put forth in a report," O'Leary said.
Knowing they needed to address the ongoing issues within the department, Jamie O'Leary, director of public safety communications, and City Manager Michael Ortega requested the report over the summer. Specifically, employees who were interviewed for the assessment reported a culture of "extreme fear." The report said there were instances of alleged bias and marginalization against the LGBTQ community, inconsistent discipline and extreme attrition rates.
According to the report, employees reported having two very distinct cultures under one roof and "an inherent rivalry between those serving the Tucson Police Department and the Tucson Fire Department." In 2017, the city made the decision to consolidate police and fire dispatchers, a transition that has proven difficult and may be the cause of much of the department's dysfunction. That is why I was so concerned when I read this report." Their role is absolutely pivotal in the emergency response services that we provide our residents. How these calls are handled can be the difference between life and death. "They are the unsung heroes who provide the support that our police officers, firefighters and paramedics need to be successful. "First, and most importantly, our 911 call takers and dispatchers are the first line of emergency response for our community," Romero said. "The contents and allegations contained within this report, if true, are simply not acceptable," Mayor Regina Romero said. There are currently 165 budgeted positioned within the department, but not all of them are filled, according to the city manager. The third-party review by Traaen & Associates LLC includes interviews with 108 employees and outlines a variety of workplace issues, including staffing levels, recruitment, training, employee morale, instances of harassment and lack of accountability. The City of Tuscon has formed a task force to address workplace issues at the Tuscon Public Safety Communications Department after a third-party review found multiple problems with staffing, training and morale.
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