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Suspended dispatcher did not ‘willfully’ neglect duties

Accusation comes amid inquiry into another dispatcher.

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 3:50 PM Monday, November 2, 2009

A Warren County dispatcher suspended for three days for sleeping on the job did not “wantonly or willfully” neglect his duties, according to disciplinary records.

Dispatcher Shawn Mason was suspended three days after county commissioners met in executive session on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Personnel records show Mason received a verbal warning when he dozed off in October 2007. He received a second warning on Sept. 16 when he was napping and did not answer a call from a patrol officer. The latest violation occurred on Oct. 17 and he was put on administrative leave until his pre-disciplinary hearing.

Disciplinary hearing records indicate Mason is a good employee and was having some “child care issues that may not have allowed him enough sleep to endure a 12-hour shift that can be rather mundane and boring.”

The charge of sleeping on duty was substantiated, but the more serious allegation of “wanton or willful neglect in the performance of assigned duties,” was determined to be unfounded. Mason could have been suspended for additional days.

Mason’s suspension comes on the heels of former Warren County Emergency Service Director Frank Young’s resignation, following the release of a report from an internal investigation into improper conduct among late-night emergency dispatchers.

Commissioner Pat South said the commissioners are interviewing companies to do a complete review of the emergency services department, including the dispatch center.

“We really want to take a hard look at the agency, from the bottom up and the top down,” she said. “On policies, procedures, operational issues, what’s good, what’s bad, what’s broken and fixable and what’s not fixable.”

In the meantime, Administrator Dave Gully is serving as interim EMS director. Surveillance cameras were installed to monitor the dispatch center.

One dispatcher, Chris Dill, said he is glad his and his co-workers’ actions are being monitored.

“I feel protected,” he said. “I have no worries.”

The problems at the dispatch center came to light when a report that linked napping to the critical Ryan Widmer 911 call surfaced.

Commissioners hired Mark Lucas of the human resources firm Clemans-Nelson & Associates to investigate what happened the night of Aug. 11, 2008, when dispatcher Ron Kronenberger answered a 911 call from Widmer, who reported that he found his wife, Sarah, unresponsive and face-down in the bathtub of their Hamilton Twp. home.

Among findings in the county’s report released Oct. 14 is that Kronenberger, rumored to have been asleep just before answering Widmer’s call, is a habitual sleeper on duty.

In the 911 call, Kronenberger sounded as if he were confused and at one point asked Widmer if he was Sarah Widmer’s mother. In the investigative report, a dispatch manager said Kronenberger was probably sound asleep prior to answering Widmer’s call. However, county officials say records from the night of the Widmer call show Kronenberger took calls 4 minutes and 3 minutes prior to Widmer’s.

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I have been in this persons situation i have dispatched for 6 years now and it is a very difficult position. I am not justifying his actions because it is wrong, but it happens to most of us and working 12 hours just dont help we get restless at 8 or 10 hours and working 12 is just not safe... he needs a shift chage

ERICA
3:12 PM, 11/3/2009

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Ryan-I agree. Twelve hour shifts may be nice for the employee as far as time at work and time off duty but it is not a good ideal as far as work performance goes. Way too long. Having seen pictures of dispatch I would say right at the beginning go back to 8 hr shifts and turn the lights on! If the reasoning for the dark is that there is a glare on the monitors, that can be fixed. 8 hour shifts, turn the lights on, stay awake like the rest of us.

Deb
6:17 AM, 11/3/2009

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I think the county needs to really consider dropping to three 8 hour shifts instead of just the two 12 hour shifts. I really think this would help and make it easier and safer for everyone involved.

RYAN
11:54 PM, 11/2/2009

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Amazing how quick we all judge when I guarantee very few have walked in these shoes. Obviously knowitall doesn't because this "man" doesn't run days at his fire deparment when he is working.....DAH! I challenge any of you to sit in a dark room, with no stimulation for 12 hours and no breaks. RN, I have been in the hospital delivering patients at 0300, you have plenty to keep you awake. Warren County Comm has way bigger issues, too bad those all got swept under the carpet huh.....

Really
11:09 PM, 11/2/2009

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Apparently you've never flown a plane. if you have, you'd realize how stupid your comment was.

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10:55 PM, 11/2/2009

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