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New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today called for urgent action to address a looming emergency for emergency responders. 911 operators and dispatchers are facing untenable, unacceptable working conditions and staff shortages that could threaten the city’s emergency response systems if not addressed immediately. The Public Advocate recently raised these issues to NYPD Commissioner Tisch, and joined workers at a press conference outside 1 Police Plaza today to further discuss the urgent issues.

“We have an emergency coming for our emergency responders – and there’s no one left for them to call,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Without fair conditions and benefits, an end to punitive forced overtime, and sufficient training and staffing, we could be heading for a crisis with no one on the other end of the line. This is a core public safety issue – we need fast emergency response. That means we need more responders, more experienced operators, and support for the trauma of the people supporting New Yorkers in traumatic moments.”

911 dispatchers and operators, members of DC37 Local 5911, report being routinely subject to unworkable conditions, including mandatory overtime under threat of penalty, with some workers unable to go home between 16-hour shifts and needing instead to sleep in the facilities.

Despite the traumatic work they are engaged in on a regular basis, NYC’s Police Communications Technicians and Supervisors are considered clerical workers, and so not able to access mental health resources. As a result of these and other conditions, as well as pay that is not commensurate with the challenges of the work, staffing levels are alarmingly low and turnover is alarmingly high.   In a letter to NYPD Commissioner Tisch, the Public Advocate documented serious issues and potential exploitative actions that workers have reported including:

• Punitive measures - including docking pay - for an inability to work forced overtime
• 16-hour mandatory overtime shifts several days a week
• Employees sleeping in locker room facilities due to time and financial constraints
• A lack of adequate mental health resources despite the trauma inherent in the work
• Hearing and vision loss due to inadequate equipment and poor facility conditions.

To address these issues, the Public Advocate demanded the NYPD answer the following questions:

1. Does the NYPD believe staffing to be adequate to successfully maintain the system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
2. What are the overtime statistics compared to other divisions within the NYPD?
3. What are the absenteeism rates compared to other divisions within the NYPD?
4. What is the current retention rate, and how does it compare to the rate of vacancies filled? What strategies, if any, have proven successful in retaining staff?
5. What contingency plans are in place if the system were to be overwhelmed?
6. What specific measures are being considered to improve staff working conditions and overall well-being?
7. What previous efforts to address these issues have been attempted, and why were they unsuccessful?
8. If 100% of the funds from surcharges were redirected to 911 operations, how would you suggest they be used to strengthen operations?

The dedication of Local 5911 workers is deep, but the consequences of a failure to address this crisis are dire. Read the full letter from the Public Advocate here.