Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) recently made headlines by deciding to implement permanent shift assignments for Chicago Fire Alarm Operators, including dispatchers and call takers. This move is part of their efforts to save $9.2 million, but it has sparked significant controversy. The news comes from Don Washington's Mayoral Tutorial, where he delves into the details of this decision.
In a post dated January 13, 2014, Don Washington writes:
Back when Mayor Emanuel was first running for office, one of our shows focused on fire safety and the 911 system. It was the one that kept people awake at night. Now, when I hear that OEMC is making changes, my first thought was—didn't they ever address the $40 million in waste, fraud, and inefficiency that Inspector General Silent Joe Ferguson uncovered years ago?
The Bad News
If there's one thing we should know about OEMC, it's that it functions best before disaster strikes. Unfortunately, the bad news keeps piling up. Despite the damning report highlighting over $40 million in quantifiable mismanagement, nothing seems to have changed. This is the department that gets called when emergencies happen, yet its history reads like a textbook on corruption. Under the Daley administration, it was a hotbed of graft and incompetence. For instance, in 2007, James Argiropoulos, the then First Deputy Executive Director, lied to the FCC to secure a $168 million no-bid contract for Motorola. And remember the $23 million purchase of cutting-edge digital communication gear in 2006 that never saw use? Or how the center spent $6 million upgrading its system, only for it to start dropping 911 calls left and right?
The Even Worse News
Gary Schenkel, the current OEMC Executive Director, claims that eliminating the rotating schedule for 86 fire communications officers isn’t a big deal. However, the union, IBEW Local 9, disagrees strongly. They argue that no major U.S. city uses straight shifts for fire dispatchers, predicting increased overtime, overstressed workers, and higher absenteeism. They also warn that inexperienced dispatchers will be on duty during peak emergencies, leading to reduced service quality despite higher costs. This sounds eerily familiar—like something you'd expect from a poorly run government entity masquerading as a business.Let’s talk about the overtime issue. Some might wonder why it’s so high, especially when dispatchers work long hours trying to remember addresses in the dead of night. SWAT teams don’t rush in without caution, after all. The reality is that Mayor Emanuel cut 45 police dispatchers and reduced overall dispatcher positions by 10, which naturally led to overtime. It’s hard to see how this new plan will improve things.
I don’t have much faith in Gary Schenkel either. He’s been at the helm for nearly three years and still can’t find the $40 million in savings. His claim that he has studies proving the effectiveness of these changes is laughable, considering his track record. It’s like trusting BP to tell us fracking is safe—it’s not just questionable; it’s downright reckless.
A History of Failure – Gary Schenkel’s Track Record
Before joining OEMC, Gary Schenkel served as Director of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) under the Bush Administration. His performance there was so abysmal that even the Bush team realized he wasn’t up to the task. Highlights include failing to protect federal employees and visitors, neglecting proper screening procedures, and allowing untrained contractor guards. These aren’t minor oversights; they’re monumental failures.Given his lack of success elsewhere, it’s concerning that he’s making such sweeping changes. If Mayor Emanuel had ever implemented a policy that genuinely benefited the public, I’d feel more optimistic. Instead, his policing and education initiatives have consistently cost more while delivering poorer outcomes. I’m officially worried about this decision.
When asked about his plan, Schenkel confidently stated, “The benefits outweigh the negatives. I’ve explained this to the union. We don’t act blindly. Give it 90 days and see how it goes. If it works, we’ll keep it; otherwise, we’ll adjust accordingly.†I wouldn’t bet on positive results. By the time we review this in 90 days, things might be spiraling out of control, and no one will question Schenkel’s latest blunder.
While OEMC’s intentions may be noble, the lack of transparency and accountability raises serious concerns. Only time will tell if this change will truly benefit the city—or if it will become another chapter in Chicago’s long history of bureaucratic missteps.
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