Washington D.C.’s 911 center is faced with a severe staffing shortage as violent crime surges in the nation’s capital.
Last week, only 50 percent staff availability led the emergency agency’s interim director, Cleo Subido, to implement mandatory overtime, as first reported by STATter911.
“We are committed to following the rules and being transparent about it,” Subido wrote to employees. “Anything that gets in the way of us improving performance, treating each other with respect, providing our responders and constituents with the care they deserve, or meeting the objectives of our mission — I will handle without delay.”
(2) With the exception of @AugensteinWTOP no news media is covering DC 911's crisis where:
• 911 can't meet minimum staffing because half the work force isn't available
• Only 35% of staff vaccinated
• Part of the work force defies orders in place to better manage 911 (more) pic.twitter.com/dITlFSw4Ol— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 23, 2021
The staffing shortage is a product of employees on a combination of family leave, personal leave, and sick leave, causing a crisis in the emergency department unable to meet its goals of public safety.
Subido however, also took issue with employees slacking on the job.
“Currently, the District is paying us for 12 hours and we are plugged into the radio for less than seven hours for the most part,” she wrote.
The email comes as crime is on the rise in D.C., with homicides in 2021 already outpacing 2020, a year which had already hit a 16-year high.
On Thursday evening, terror struck a popular neighborhood in northwest D.C., when a drive-by shooter injured two, according to Fox News, and sent those nearby running for their lives.
https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1418369651466244105?s=20
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) July 23, 2021
By Thursday, police data shows the District has seen 106 homicides, eclipsing last year’s number at the same point by one. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the policy department “to use any overtime necessary” to meet the challenge posed by rising crime rates.
Today, I notified the DC Council that I have directed @DCPoliceDept to use any overtime necessary to meet our public safety needs. #SaferStrongerDC pic.twitter.com/PC34246THi
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) July 19, 2021
