911 dispatchers punished for not working overtime: I-Team

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has found Cleveland police dispatchers punished for not working overtime even when they expected to have a day off, so we investigated.

Urgent 911 calls often get taken by Cleveland police dispatchers working endless shifts.

Now, the Cleveland police union has raised issues of dispatchers punished for refusing to stay when told they have to work overtime.

“Every day. They’re short every day,” union president Andy Gasiewski said.

He points out that the 911 call center is short-staffed. Dispatchers work 12 hour shifts, but they can be forced to work an extra four hours. Or, they can be forced to come in on a day off.

Saying “no” can lead to warnings, reprimands and even suspensions.

“If everyone turns it down, for whatever reason, they come back and they order you. Now, you have to work and you can face insubordination,” Gasiewski said.

We asked the chief’s office why some dispatchers get punished for not working overtime.

“If something is found to be in violation of the union contract, then that’s when discipline would occur,” Sgt. Freddy Diaz said.

Diaz also said that police are following work rules in a union contract. The union takes particular issue with how dispatchers are ordered to work on days off.

“There’s stipulations in that contract,” Diaz said. “At the end of the day, our commitment is to keeping the community safe. We have to have a fair staffing level in dispatch.”

Short-staffing in Cleveland police dispatch has been a chronic problem going back years. In fact, in 2015, we reported on a new Cleveland 911 center. That story in 2015 included a shortage of dispatchers.

Now, a new battle over how to deal with it.

At times, many of you have even felt the impact, calling 911 and getting a recording saying,
“all operators are currently handling other emergencies.”

Police officers can also be forced to work overtime.

As for the 911 center, police say they’re trying to hire more dispatchers and work with the union.

But for now, your 911 call when seconds count may be handled by someone ordered to work hours of overtime.

The union has filed a grievance, a formal complaint related to the overtime on days off.

Police say the 911 center is short-staffed by about 10%. The union believes the short-staffing is greater.

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