5 D.C. Council Members Support 911 Shakeup

A proposal to split the District of Columbia’s unified 911 system could advance in the D.C. Council despite opposition from D.C. Fire and Emergency Services (DCFEMS), said sponsor Brianne Nadeau (D) in an interview Friday. Nadeau was to introduce her bill Friday evening with fellow Democrats Zachary Parker, Janeese George, Trayon White and Robert White, a Nadeau spokesperson said.

Nadeau’s bill aims to speed emergency response in the wake of failures by the D.C. Office of Unified Communications (OUC) to meet national 911 standards. The Reliable and Effective 911 Dispatch Amendment Act proposal would transfer fire and emergency medical calls from OUC to dedicated triage lines staffed by DCFEMS. OUC would continue to handle 911 calls for police.

D.C. residents “can’t count on” an answer to their 911 calls, said Nadeau, adding she receives weekly complaints from constituents. Even when calls are answered, callers might not reach someone who understands their medical issues, she said. The situation at OUC hasn’t improved with a new director, she said. A 2019 pilot where DCFEMS took dispatch calls was successful, according to Nadeau. The bill seeks to make that approach permanent, she said.

While five D.C. Council members back the plan, it remains unclear if the bill can gain enough support to pass the 13-member council. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chair Brooke Pinto (D) aren't co-sponsors, and they didn’t comment on the proposal Friday. Pinto held multiple hearings on OUC's problems and introduced a bill to enhance accountability and transparency (see 2310050062).

No member told Nadeau he or she “categorically” opposes her bill, she said. “It’s gotten a warm response from those who are following this issue closely and really want to see a change.” Pinto is “being cautious about signing onto bills” likely to be referred to her committee, but in a conversation “she said she is very happy to work with me and hear the ideas that we have on this issue,” said Nadeau. In another conversation about the bill, Mendelson didn’t “express any concerns specifically,” she said.

Another potential hurdle is DCFEMS opposition. “I do not support this bill,” Chief John Donnelly said in an emailed statement. “OUC is a valued partner and their call-takers and dispatchers play an integral role to our agencies' emergency responses. I am in constant contact with [OUC Director Heather] McGaffin and support the innovations OUC is taking in identifying where changes can be made to improve the system and how DCFEMS can support them. This bill does not advance our collaborative approach.” OUC declined to comment, referring us to DCFEMS instead.

Donnelly’s opposition didn't surprise Nadeau. “I don’t think that cabinet members are at liberty to … support Council initiatives generally,” she said. Nadeau will work with the DCFEMS chief on any concerns, she added. “But you know, it’s been 20 years since we integrated” 911 calls into a unified office “and it’s not working for his people either -- some of whom worked with us on drafting this bill.” The fire department also didn’t support unifying 911 two decades ago, she noted.

Nadeau isn’t “super optimistic” about gaining buy-in from DCFEMS or OUC but believes “we can build enough support in the legislature and among the public to get this done,” she said. D.C. Auditor Kathleen Patterson, who led an audit of OUC that found problems, “has been encouraging me on this,” said Nadeau. Patterson didn’t comment Friday.

The fire chief’s opposition to the bill “is an issue,” said Dave Statter, a former journalist who regularly blogs and tweets about OUC issues. However, Statter told us he doesn’t think 911 problems will be fixed if OUC stays in charge of fire and EMS dispatch. Results of the 2019 pilot weren’t made public, said Statter, but he heard from call handlers and emergency responders that “it made a big difference.” A unified 911 structure has worked in some places but not in D.C., he said. “They’ve had almost 20 years to get this right, and they’re still failing.” With lives in danger, “something needs to be done now to shake up the status quo.”