Advocated here for years. Maybe someone is actually listening?
- After years of discussion and delay, Chicago is finally ready to usher in a revolutionary change in 911 dispatch to free police officers to respond to the most serious crimes, a top mayoral aide said Thursday.
Gary Schenkel, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, disclosed that Police Supt. Garry McCarthy has drafted a “general order” outlining the “call diversion” plan that will alter a dispatch policy that sends police officers to respond to 70 percent of 911 calls, compared with 30 percent in other major cities.
It won’t be implemented until the public is educated and physical improvements to the 911 center floor are completed, he said.
Of course, that could take years. Years beyond McNewYawk's tenure even. And that delay could kill the entire project.
We imagine Rahm will demand a commensurate pay reduction since we'll all have 40 or 60% more time to spend on revenue generation once service calls are redirected to 3-1-1 or disregarded entirely. We sense a long road ahead, with many bumps. Bumps involving slowed hiring, more positions unfilled and a complete lack of advancement opportunities.