DC Councilmember Promises Surprise Visits to 911 Center as Errors Continue

The District of Columbia’s 911 office staff can expect more D.C. Council scrutiny this fall, Judiciary and Public Safety Chair Brooke Pinto (D) said Monday. Pinto, in a news release, said she has “deep concern around continued errors and challenges” at Office of Unified Communications. Accordingly, Pinto promised monthly oversight hearings about the OUC and will make biweekly surprise visits to the 911 center. Also, Pinto plans to introduce a bill that would require public release of after-action reports within 45 days of incidents where errors may have led to serious injury or death. Also, the measure would require release of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) reports and 911 call recordings and transcripts. Dave Statter, a former journalist who regularly blogs and tweets about OUC, gave a mixed review of Pinto’s plan in a blog post Monday. Requiring OUC to disclose 911 calls and CAD reports is good because the office has refused to release that information, he said. “Unfortunately, the legislation … still allows DC911 to self-investigate critical incidents.” OUC has received much scrutiny over incidents where incorrect addresses and miscommunication prompted dispatching delays (see 2402080059).