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911 Boss Discusses Call Center Mistakes

911 Boss Discusses Call Center Mistakes

Lauren Leamanczyk

MADISON - Joe Norwick, Dane County's Communications Director, fielded questions from county supervisors about what went wrong with a botched 911 call from a University of Wisconsin student.

Many questions centered on procedures and staffing at the 911 center. Others on why some recommendations from a 2004 audit of the center had not been enacted.

UW student Brittany Zimmermann was found dead in her Madison apartment April 2. It was later revealed she had dialed 911 for help, but no one came to her aid. An internal review of the situation showed the dispatcher made two key errors in handling the call.

"Is this common to have multiple errors like that?," asked County Board Chairman Scott McDonell. "No, I don't think it's a frequent occurrence," Norwick responded. "I think people are human. People make mistakes. People in a very stressful job make mistakes."

Norwick added he could not guarantee staffers would not make mistakes in the future.

Some supervisors were openly frustrated with what they view as a lack of information and lack of action.

"This looks like a cover up!" remarked Sup. Eileen Bruskewitz.

She later told TODAY'S TMJ4's Lauren Leamanczyk she's upset that the county hasn't given more specifics on how they plan to implement the 2004 recommendations and on what precisely went wrong.

Topf Wells, chief of staff to County Executive Kathleen Falk, says it's just not true that they haven't acted on the audit.

“New training programs, new officers, new dispatchers, $30 millions committed,” he listed off the changes.

Also released was a 20 page report compiled as authorities investigated the mistakes. Much of the information had been redacted by the police and district attorney.
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