Mr. Editor,
Thank you for the space.
I am very well aware that many of us become tired and are not always in the mood or the best frame of mind to go to our jobs daily. I myself do have those feelings sometimes.
But when you are a front-line worker dealing with the public we have to be careful of not letting those ill feelings get the better of us.
A close relative of mine with a declaration of sole parental had her one-year-old son forcefully taken from her custody by his psychotic father, who is no stranger to police, made a 911 call on Sunday, 13 January, in the evening hours asking for assistance in getting her child back. I assumed the dispatcher was tired of the situation, as there were many previous 911 calls pertaining to this case in question.
My advice to the Ms. Dispatcher that was on duty between the hours of 7:00pm and 9:30pm: Next time, please have the courtesy of covering the phone with your hand. Before your attempt to help, we heard everything you said to your colleague in the background. Let me refresh your memory, “I am sick of this girl. Why she don’t try handle this herself? Which department she works again?” And I assume the person you were talking to is your colleague, who is just as bad, said, “I think it is Immigration or one of them, but she didn’t had problems the other day with this already.”
All of this took place while we were holding on the line waiting for your help. Shame on you, Ms. Dispatcher. Next time ask your supervisor to switch you to a next department if you are not in the mood, because one has to be able to willingly offer assistance to all 911 Emergency calls regardless of the situation.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Viquin
