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Here’s more on the decision by Chicago’s OEMC to implement permanent shift assignments for Chicago Fire Alarm Operators—those who serve as dispatchers and call takers.
This is from Don Washington’s Mayoral Tutorial.
> By Don Washington on January 13, 2014
Back when Mayor Emanuel wasn’t even in office, the Tutorial did a special segment on fire safety and the 911 system. It was one of the most talked-about shows we ever did—and not just because of the content. The audience was *terrified*. So when I read that the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is making changes to save $9.2 million, my first thought was: “Did they finally find that $40 million in waste, fraud, and mismanagement that IG Silent Joe Ferguson uncovered three years ago?â€
**The Bad News**
The truth is, nothing has really changed. The OEMC still runs like a circus, and it's only a matter of time before something goes terribly wrong. The report that revealed over $40 million in misused funds has gone largely unaddressed. These are the people you call when you're in trouble. But behind the scenes, the agency has a long history of corruption that would make even the worst politicians blush.
During the Daley era, the OEMC was a hotbed of graft and incompetence. In 2007, James Argiropoulos, then First Deputy Executive Director, lied to the FCC to secure a $168 million no-bid contract for Motorola. Then there was the $23 million purchase of digital communication gear that never worked. After spending $6 million on an upgrade, the system started dropping 911 calls like they were hot potatoes.
**The Worse Than Bad News**
Now, the OEMC is ending rotating shifts for 86 fire communications officers. According to Gary Schenkel, the director, it’s no big deal. But the union, IBEW Local 9, disagrees. They say no major city in the U.S. uses straight shifts for emergency dispatchers. They warn of increased overtime, stressed-out workers, and a higher risk of errors during peak times.
It sounds exactly like what happens when government tries to run like a business—cutting costs at the expense of public safety.
A quick note: I mentioned earlier how massive overtime had become. That’s because rotating shifts meant employees often worked extra hours. Now, with permanent shifts, the same problem will likely persist—or get worse.
As for Gary Schenkel, he’s been in charge of the OEMC for almost three years and still hasn’t found that $40 million in waste. His track record is questionable. Before joining the OEMC, he was in charge of the Federal Protective Service under Bush, where he managed to fail spectacularly. If anything, his leadership speaks volumes about the current state of the agency.
So, when he says, “The benefits outweigh the negatives,†and tells the media to give it 90 days, I’m not sure anyone will be around to check if he was right. My guess? The ship will be on fire, and the media won’t have the courage to ask the hard questions.
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