Cha-Ching!!!
While the Department continues to clamp down on overtime expenditures (which we're sure contributes to the dismal clearance rates), at the 911 center, overtime is at an all time high:
A pair of police communications operators at Chicago's 911 center raked in $114,591 and $113,136 in overtime last year -- double their annual salaries -- raising renewed questions about staffing levels that were supposed to be resolved two years ago.
Archie Tiner, whose six-figure overtime in 2005 was highlighted by the Chicago Sun-Times, had a repeat performance in 2007. He nearly tripled his $61,656-a-year salary with $114,591 in overtime.
Colleague Sherman Brown Jr. was No. 2 on the overtime parade with $113,136.
We were hoping the two dispatcher blogs that we link to on the right hand column might cover some of this story more in depth. We remember they used to complain about manadatory overtime, canceled P-days, lunch denials and the like. We can't recall anything of the sort lately and would like to get their take on it all. But $100,000 in OT? Wow.
And this might fall under J-Fed's purview as combined Superintendent and Emergency Director.
And this might fall under J-Fed's purview as combined Superintendent and Emergency Director.
Labels: department issues
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
26 Comments:
Maybe thats the job to get. They give you overtime when ever you want and even when you don't. More departments run by corrupt over their head connected people. The city and its democrats just keep spending, spending, spending. After taxing taxing and taxing.
Time for a tea party!
We should demand that we get overtime in our OWN districts.
I would gladly work at least one of my RDO's every week since we are down around 3500 Police Officers.
But no we just sit around waiting for FOP and the city to stick it in farther and farther.
Stop for just one month and see the attection it gets. No parkers no movers no nothing but answering your calls and writing reports for anything you can.
The only way to make it better is to first make it worse! Lets really see how tuff we are. Better yet, lets show them.
Dispatchers are rude unknowledgable and often intelegable when you call 911. rmember boys and girls there are less of them and more of us. They are flexing their clout. Why can we Hello FOP.
Our Dispatchers are severely neglected. That's one hell of a job. To be understaffed is to put these people in heart attack mode.
Good thing for all the extra o/t $$. They'll need it to buy pacemakers, Excedrin Migraine tabs, and Monster energy drink in order to tolerate working @ the Migraine Palace.
Unfortunately, since the time that first article was written about the OT at the OEMC, not much has been done. It is still severely understaffed. Mandatory OT is still forced, and over half the week, we are asked to work through our lunches. Just on last Christmas eve alone, not 1 person went on medical or was given time due, but they still had to mandate 15 from 2nd watch to work at least 4 hours onto 3rd watch. If lucky, we are getting 10-15 new dispatchers every 2 years, which barely makes up for the ones that leave after realizing what shitty conditions we work in. I feel for all of you on the street and the manpower shortage you have and would say I could relate, but you are the ones putting your lives on the line everyday. Keep up the good work and stay safe out there...
Funny how even without the overtime they make the smae or more than a p.o with 3 years on!!
You would think that you were asking the bitch on Zone 1 [3rd watch] for a kidney when you ask for an event number. Rude and totally dis-interested in doing the job. Even "Mumbles" on CW 1 is friendly, although tough to understand most of the time. Professional consideration for a dispatcher you don't personally know on a traffic stop? I think NOT. Those days are as long gone as PO Mike Z. dispatching Zone 6 like a fine tuned machine.
PS - On the plus side, the crew on Zone 4 [Sharon and crew] seem to try to watch out for the POs, not just tossing out jobs as they approach orange.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Dispatchers are rude unknowledgable and often intelegable when you call 911. rmember boys and girls there are less of them and more of us. They are flexing their clout. Why can we Hello FOP.
2/05/2008 07:07:00 AM
I think you flexed a little too hard and possibly had an anyurism....
Apparently you have not heard everything there is to here about the overtime whores.
Special employment was available at Midway, O'Hare, the schools,TARA,CHA,CTA,Film Unit, Traffic unit,and Dan Ryan. Factor in your court time and you did very well.
For 2007, alot of us raked in some serious cash. Some officers hit an all-time yearly high of 200,000. (Double their salary)
Some overtime whores raked in more than $10,000 just in FL$A while one sgt went over $24,000 in FL$A.
The airports continue to offer overtime just to unit members.
So go ahead and pick on Archie or Sherman. It will detract from our display of shameful greed at CPD
We should demand overtime in our home district. The airports are getting overtime to cover manpower shortages. And so, the districts should be able to hire-back officers to cover manpower shortages that are real and impact our safety.
3rd Watch Dispater... we feel for you. Although the $ is nice, so is having a life.
Keep up the good work.
"we are asked to work through our lunches"
That's illegal. Hopefully the media will write a story about the calls you get, how you're understaffed and the horrid working conditions.
The top 2 money makers have no life!!! They NEVER turn down OT, which in turn does not give opportunity for those with less seniority to get in on the OT cash flow. Their mantra must be Greed Is Good!! From what I hear that's 'supposed' to change in 2008, the OT will be rotated more evenly. Only time will tell.
What really sux is the fact that when personnel are mandated to stay for 4 or more, but cannot, they are issued a freak'n CI number for insubordination. WTF is that all about.
So, my friendly boys & girls in blue, shelve your 'spending, spending, spending .... connected people .... clout baby comments til you know the whole story.
As for the mumblings, unintelligible and rudeness by dispatchers, well there's just no excuse for that. Don't put the entire OEC in one category, puhleeze. There's alot of us who do it right, and do it well.
Just sign me, one of the many underpaid (no OT) overworked employees at the OEC.
Make an arrest late and they send you or your partner home, screwing up chain of custody, evidence etc...
Plus it always goes faster with 2 than 1. Now I have to leave the processing area whose gonna watch my prisoner? Bosses more worried about OT than proper procedures and processing. If top BRASS had a clue on how to Manage as opposed to react to shit then we would actually funtion more like a professional organization than the joke we are.
I would happily volunteer for 4 extra hours a tour twice a week at OT! What a way to man midnights better. Work 4 hours late and have days volunteer to come in 4 hours early. POOF EXTRA CAR ON WATCH!!!
Maybe our new boss can change the bullshit dispatch priorities.
No more dog barking calls.
No more assist fire on the 90 year old at the nursing home whose combative.
Why send us out to do a report for a NOT IN PROGRESS? Send them in.
Have call back actually do a report!
Why is a 3rd party anonymous domestic a priority 1a?
NEW YORK only sends Police for IN PROGRESS jobs!!! Please FIX THIS MESS SUPT. Weiss!
So with OT included whats the highest W2 anyone has heard for a PO or Det this past year????? I know of a few that made about 25G in OT, but theres got to be PO's who made more??
Funny thing is, both of those people are NOT Dispatchers, but are calltakers. Yes, calltakers! They both worked in the Old Room at 11th and State as dispatcher aids and they both have tons of seniority.
So when they are short of people, they both are first up (by seniority) to fill in and work Double shifts at time and 1/2).
It's not un-usual for them to be asked several times a week to work extra, and they both do.
One of their big problems are people showing up for work. Many only come a few times a week, if sober and not out clubbing. For Christmas and New Years, everyone wanted off and were denied by a supervisor (who then took the days off herself in a sneaky last minute call-or was she marked working?) Her employees then just called in sick and took off anyway, and no one was disciplined, nothing said, thats just the way it is over there.
They need more responsible people in charge and not do as I say and not as I do!
OEC has been aware of this shortage for several years and has failed to address the problem of hiring tons of extra people to work at straight time.
Follow The Chicago Dispatcher blog,
they have been aware also of this and the fact that management would like to just pick their favorite people to work the overtime and forget about seniority ( as this also occured many years ago in Unit 152, Loop Traffic. A Sgt. over there wanted to hand pick who would work and when. A officer filed a grievance and finally received about 2 years worth of overtime that he was denied By Sgt. Santa, p.s. his last name was the same as that t.v. reporter who was fired for wearing a bikini at a suspects house aka pool party).
Good Luck to those people at OEMC and you too Jody as their new boss, your people over there are some of the worst managers in city government. More Clout Whores!
We think CPD is messed up, OEMC has us beat by a mile!
I have never been jealous of the OT anyone earned and I've seen a lot. For me give me a 40 hour week and the chance to see my kids grow up. They will appreciate you being there to see their games, concerts, etc. than any OT check that you may bring home. God bless you if you need it, but try and be there for the kids. omho.
Your names & monies are not available on the city web for the public to see. I can understand the tax-payer wanting to know where the money goes (besides politician's pockets)...but don't you think names should be kept private? C'mon........now all the bad boys from the hood are gonna be stakin out Archie & Sherman's houses askin for a hand out!
"Dispatchers are rude unknowledgable
and often untelegable when you call 911. rmember boys and girls..."
Whoa--rmember (oops--I meant remember) a couple of things.
Dispatchers don't answer 911, those are the call-takers. Whole diffrent animal.
Before you call someone unknowledgable (no such word, try ignorant or uninformed) or untelegable (maybe unintelligble), check your dictionary.
...and to think---they hired the civilians because they said P.O. Dispatchers were too expensive! What a joke, ask any old-timer, we got it done with pen and paper!!! (a retired P.O. Dispatcher)
I like being shamefully greedy.
Your names & monies are not available on the city web for the public to see.
_____________________
Oh yes they are. All city and county employee's salaries and positions are posted on a site open to the public.
bring back PATRICK on zone 6
Dispatchers DO answer 911s, on both police and fire side, tho not while on the radio.
would we keep our senority if we went to OEC?
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