Officials: E911 dispatch center staffing fine despite claims by anonymous critics

Currently, the E911 Center has 13 people in the telecommunications center. The initial staffing level was set at 12 operators, although Smith said the optimal level based on call numbers for Saline County is 15 telecommunicators minimum.

Two of the 13 current staff members are new hires: one is in training and the other is going through orientation. Another member of the staff is on medical leave.

"Since the E911 Center opened, we have lost four employees," Smith said.

Of the four that have left the center, two -- including an employee and the previous E911 director, Pam Teague -- left prior to Smith's promotion to director.

As for reasons why the other two employees left the center, Smith declined to comment.

"It's a very difficult job and not everyone is cut out for it," she said.

The current round of controversy for the E911 Center was promulgated by a series of anonymous postings by forum users with the handles "aristicat22" and "help us all."

"Help us all" made a single posting on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 1:48 p.m. "Aristicat22" has made seven postings, including two that were deleted as duplicate posts. "Aristicat22" responded to requests from MDN for comment on this story with a single e-mail promising to call.

"Aristicat22" has not made that call and supported his allegations. He signed up for the forum on Aug. 10 and made all seven posts from the same IP address that returns Lexington, Mo., as the city of origin.

Scott Freitag, president of the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, said changes in the management structure and consolidation into a centralized dispatch system contributes to turnover.

Excelling with one system of dispatch does not mean a dispatcher can excel at all three disciplines, Freitag.

"If there was a shake-up at the top, it could reverberate through the employees," he said. "Those sorts of things can contribute to the stress loads the dispatchers already feel."

Larry Stockman, an associate professor of finance and economics at Missouri Valley College, said losing two employees after a change in management doesn't seem particularly excessive.

"It could be a personality conflict," he said. "It depends on the size of the business."

As the Chief of Marshall's police, Mike Donnell has a vested interest in the operation of the E911 Center, but he said he doesn't see the benefits of anonymous postings to the Internet.

"Am I concerned that there will be nobody to pick up the phone when someone calls? No," Donnell said. "I would love for (the poster) to give me the complaint in writing."

Smith agreed, saying the E911 Center welcomed citizen comments and complaints.

"If there is a problem, I want to hear about it," she said. "I can't fix it, if I don't know about it."

Contact Pat Nolan at pnolan@marshallnews.com