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A new D.C. Council bill would transfer some 911 dispatching responsibilities away from the troubled Office of Unified Communications and back to the D.C. fire department. The bill, which Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau unveiled Tuesday, was announced along with another measure that would increase financial rewards for people who come forward with information about homicides.
The bills aim to address two problems in D.C.’s public safety system: ongoing concerns about long 911 wait times and dispatching errors at D.C.’s Office of Unified Communications, and the fact that murders are up in D.C. as homicide case closure rates have fallen.
Nadeau’s office says she will formally introduce the bills on Friday after all D.C. Councilmembers have had a chance to read them and sign on if they choose. So far, At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson has said she will co-sponsor the bill on compensation for homicide witnesses — a move which typically signals support for the legislation. Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker have signed on to co-sponsor the bill on 911 dispatching. But the bill is already garnering disapproval from some corners: notably, D.C.’s fire chief said Tuesday afternoon that he did not support moving dispatching responsibilities away from OUC.
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