Communications Training Officer Charles M. Morris of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (that is to say a 9-1-1 dispatcher), in Palm Beach, Florida, was caught playing “a handheld video game” whilst on duty on Oct. 21. (For any non-stateside readers, 9-1-1 is the emergency services number in the United States of America.)
This information has become available to the public in the wake of a disciplinary investigation into Mr. Morris’ transgressions.
Between October 2014 and October 2015, Mr. Morris was found to have neglected his dispatcher duties an additional two times.
One instance saw a call for aid after a shooting had occurred, delayed for nine minutes before Morris dispatched a unit to respond to the incident.
The other recorded incident saw people calling for aid after a hit and run waiting for a whopping 40 minutes before help was dispatched to them. During both incidents, we have been told, there was no shortage of Sheriffs available.
The spokeswoman for the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, Teri Barbera, has stated that since the disciplinary review took place Morris has been given a written reprimand and was demoted.
Are you glad that this guy is not a police dispatcher in your area? Think he should have received a harsher punishment then being demoted? Leave a comment below.
