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Posted: Wednesday, 04 November 2009 9:57AM
Gary dispatchers trapped by faulty door
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GARY, Ind. (STNG) -- While Gary police officers were responding to the latest in a string of homicides in their city Monday at midnight, dispatchers at the public safety building say they were trapped in the radio room because of a faulty electronic lock.
Dorita Lee, the senior communications operator in charge at the time, said the Gary Fire Department was called to break down the door. Now she said she fears repercussions from police administrators because of a letter from her supervisor asking for an explanation.
"They don't seem to be worried about our safety at all," Lee said. "They're just worried about the door."
Cpl. Gabrielle King, the department's spokeswoman, declined to respond to Lee's comments Tuesday night. Willie Wallace, president of AFSCME Local 3491, said he is trying to learn more about the incident.
"It shouldn't have happened," Wallace said.
Lee said a 4 p.m.-to-midnight shift had just ended for the operators, and the night shift was busy briefing the morning crew.
At about the same time, police were responding to a homicide in the 300 block of Pierce Street.
When the operators tried to use their electronic key cards to leave the room, Lee said the device jammed, leaving seven operators stranded.
"I tried jimmying it with a knife," Lee said.
A communications supervisor hung up on the operators when they tried to call for help, Lee said, and no one had a key to the back door of the radio room, which was also locked.
Fearing a fire or other dangers, Lee said she called the Gary Fire Department.
"I told them to do whatever they had to do to get the door open," Lee said.
The operators are now being told to explain the damage to the door.
"Now we're going to be penalized for getting out of the room when we were supposed to," Lee said.
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Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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