The Village of Oak Lawn recently outsourced its emergency dispatch center, sparking concerns from neighboring communities. CBS Chicago recently reported on complaints brought before the Oak Lawn Village Board, highlighting growing unease over the new system.
During a recent meeting of the Oak Lawn Village Board, Trustee Bob Streit raised serious concerns about the emergency call center, referencing a letter from Evergreen Park about “a series of incidents†in recent weeks involving alleged poor service. The dispatch center, which serves multiple communities including Evergreen Park, was privatized this year as part of a cost-cutting initiative. Many of the previous dispatchers lost their jobs, leading to questions about the quality of service.
In a February 24 letter, Evergreen Park attorney Michael Cainkar expressed concern over how calls were handled, including one involving a man with a gun where critical information allegedly wasn't shared with responding officers. Cainkar warned that the "recent performance poses a direct threat to both public and officer safety." Streit echoed these concerns, stating, "There’s more. This is the tip of the iceberg."
Streit also criticized the village leadership for not informing the board about the complaints. He said, "This board is supposed to set policy, but it's impossible to set policy when complaints and issues are hidden from the board. There is no excuse, especially when it comes to the safety of the public and our residents."
Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton, however, defended the new system, saying he's confident any problems will be resolved. "It’s not a big deal at this point," he said. Meanwhile, Village Manager Larry Deetjen and Mayor Sandra Bury emphasized that the new contractor, Norcomm, prioritizes public safety. Deetjen noted that the dispatch center handles over 100,000 calls annually and that while they're not perfect, mistakes were common under the old system too.
Bury added that the previous system had its own issues, which were never made public. She dismissed claims that the new system is worse, saying, "To imply there were no mistakes with the former system… you’re seeing it made into something political and that’s really a shame."
Despite these assurances, residents and officials remain divided, with some calling for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of emergency services. As the situation unfolds, the community watches closely to see if the new system can truly deliver the safety and efficiency that residents expect.
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