Public Employee Press


Civilianization fight continues
City adds to civilian hires at NYPD

"We think the department is moving in the right direction, though we also believe it will have to hire more call takers and dispatchers."
—Eddie Rodriguez, President, Local 1549

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

The New York Police Dept. continues to beef up its clerical staff as it prepares to begin operations this month at its new call center in the Bronx.

The department's promotions and hirings comes as Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 continues to press for the hiring of civilian employees.

The union's ongoing civilianization campaign calls for the department to reassign more highly paid Police Officers to street beats and other regular police duties.

"We think the department is moving in the right direction, though we also believe it will have to hire more call takers and dispatchers than it's doing right now," Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez said.

"We want to work closely with the department to ensure that the training and promotions are carried out smoothly and that the transition to the new call center occurs with the least disruption possible," said Local 1549 Executive Vice President Alma Roper, who before she took over her union duties worked at the NYPD 911 Call Center at 11 Metrotech in Brooklyn.

The contracted-out call center project in the Bronx is opening after years of delays and overspending.

In May, the department swore in 38 new Police Communication Technicians after they went through eight weeks of training. Before they started work, Local 1549 and the DC 37 Clerical-Administrative Division held an orientation for the 911 operators at union headquarters to inform them about union benefits and services.

Also in May, the department held a graduation ceremony for 70 new Police Administrative Assistants, who are also represented by Local 1549.

This month, the department begins training an additional 70 PAAs. Another class for new PCTs will start June 10.

More than 20 PCTs were appointed on May 13 to the position of Supervising Police Communication Technician and participated in an orientation.

With the hiring this year, as of April 21, the civilian workforce includes 1,159 PCTs and 146 SPCTs at the call center and 1,381 PAAs and 890 Sr. PAAs in precincts.

In recent years, the local has gone to arbitration three times to push for civilianization.

A public safety issue

Three years ago, it picked up the pressure because of excessive overtime and understaffing at the call center in Brooklyn.

The local credited Vanessa Gibson, chair of the City Council's Public Safety Committee, for playing a key role in securing funding for the 200 additional 911 operators who have been hired in waves.

"We are very pleased with the progress so far," said Assistant Director Kenneth Mulligan of the Clerical- Administrative Division. "But we are continuing to advocate for increased staffing. This is an issue of public safety."

Second Vice President Ralph Palladino has testified this year before the City Council on the need for more clerical workers at the Police Dept.

Typically, 911 operators handle about 13 million emergency calls a year.