By Michael Davis and Lauren Gregory
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. said on Thursday that Republican opponent Bob Corker cut 911 funding while he was mayor of Chattanooga.
More than 31,000 calls to 911 from Chattanooga went unanswered in 2005, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported earlier this year. Mr. Corker left office in the spring of 2005.
Rep. Ford cited statements by Mr. Corker during a Republican U.S. Senate debate in July.
"(Mr. Corker) made clear that he wanted to bring to Washington the same approach to security that he brought to Chattanooga,” Rep. Ford said in a news conference Thursday in front of the 911 communications center. “I’m here to say we don’t need that.”
Corker campaign spokeswoman Alexia Poe said in a statement that the number of 911 employees increased during the Corker administration. Corker campaign officials previously have said that there was an increase in 911 employees from 66 to 68 during Mr. Corker’s mayoral tenure.
“The truth is that the public record clearly shows that during Mayor Bob Corker’s administration new positions were added to staff the 911 call center,” Ms. Poe said.
The Ford campaign has cited an internal document from the Chattanooga Police Department stating that positions would have to be cut for the 911 center. Lt. Tara Pedigo, who since has retired from the department, wrote in November 2004 that she was ordered to cut overtime and that minimum manpower per shift would have to be cut.
Rep. Ford said Mr. Corker did not respond to calls by officials for more 911-related funding. He said that there were consequences to follow.
“No one could hear the phone ring but the caller,” Rep. Ford said Thursday. “The children went without ambulances, communities went harmed and homes went burning.”
Rep. Ford said this is not the type of leadership needed in a time in which America is trying to improve national security.
But Ms. Poe said that “Congressman Ford is attacking Bob Corker’s record of success to hide his ineffective record in Washington over the past 10 years.”
Members of the 911 board, local law enforcement officials and emergency response personnel heard a recommendation Wednesday from independent consulting firm Maximus, which suggested revamping Hamilton County’s existing system.
In comparing the local 911 system to those in Knox County, Metro Nashville and Brown County, Wis., Maximus determined that Hamilton County dispatchers are plagued by inconsistent training and protocol, low morale and a lack of clear responsibility.
The dispatchers now work out of a centralized location on Amnicola Highway but are managed separately by the agencies for which they take calls.
The Hamilton County 911 Center also is “severely understaffed,” according to Maximus consultants, especially when it comes to Chattanooga police dispatchers.
To remedy the ongoing problem, the Chattanooga police dispatch unit requested 16 additional people in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The requests were not granted until the 2004-05 fiscal year budget, when the number of positions was increased from 66 to 68, Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks said.
Budget adjustments for the 2006-07 fiscal year have allowed for the addition of six more, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said Wednesday.