Dean Narciso, The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

An unexpected shortage of police and fire dispatchers has prompted Worthington’s communications center supervisor to recommend that the city’s response arrangement with Columbus be suspended.

“It is my personal belief that by not allowing us to control the distraction of (Columbus Division of Fire radio traffic), we are providing a disservice to our citizens (and) personnel and could prove to have adverse results,” communications supervisor Cecilia Weirick wrote to Worthington Police Chief James Mosic.

With four civilian dispatchers retired, quitting or on extended sick leave in the past year, Mosic had sworn police officers fill in — rare within dispatching centers. Mosic also issued a staff-wide memo on Jan. 28 canceling days off for the remaining dispatchers.

The city has opted not to cut mutual-aid service for Columbus fire emergencies, said Anne Brown, city spokeswoman. And staffing should be back to full strength, or nine full-time workers, by next week, she said.

Almost 40 percent of Worthington’s EMS and fire calls were from Columbus last year.

“It has been a difficult situation because of low staffing,” Brown said. “The staff has done a wonderful job filling in and hanging in there.”

Beyond the staffing shortage, other issues have affected morale in the department, some say.

On Jan. 24, dispatcher Heather Atwood asked Mosic why the supervisor, Weirick, wasn’t filling in more on dispatching duties. Atwood wrote that Mosic became enraged, telling her, “Do not ever question my authority!!” and “Do not ever address me again with something like this!!!,” according to Atwood’s resignation letter.

Atwood, an eight-year employee, wrote that she struggled through the remainder of her Thursday shift, stating they she felt “extremely threatened” by Mosic’s tone, and then quit.

Worthington officials investigated and found no evidence of “workplace violence,” as Atwood had claimed.

Others have complained about overtime, including dispatcher Debbie Hunter, who was assigned a 16-hour shift in August after having volunteered to work two separate 12-hour shifts. She wrote to Weirick, “I sign up for all the overtime I think my body can possibly manage.”

Brown, the city spokeswoman, said she was unaware of widespread dissatisfaction among dispatchers.

However, Hilliard Police Chief Doug Francis, who left Worthington’s department about three years ago as a lieutenant, said recent discussions to consolidate now separately run dispatching centers might be to blame.

“Emotions are running rampant,” he said. “It’s about jobs and job security.”

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