Investigators into tragic case of the dropped call for help at
the Gilroy Police Department have reached a conclusion: the
dispatcher who took the call about a driverless, out-of-control
truck failed to transfer it to the California Highway Patrol, as
required by GPD protocol.
Investigators into tragic case of the dropped call for help at the Gilroy Police Department have reached a conclusion: the dispatcher who took the call about a driverless, out-of-control truck failed to transfer it to the California Highway Patrol, as required by GPD protocol.
A decision has not been made, according to police brass, about what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken against the longtime dispatcher, described as having an exemplary record.
That’s a decision best left to GPD administrators, who have access to more information – such as the dispatcher’s personnel file – than is publicly available. We’ll trust them to make the right decision.
But whatever they decide, the dispatcher will have to live with the agonizing knowledge that had he followed procedure, William Iwanaga might be alive today. And that’s a heavy burden to bear.
We’re glad there are people willing to serve in jobs – such as emergency dispatchers, air traffic controllers – where the stress is high and the margin for error is zero.
But the fact that there is no room for error makes following procedures – every time – critically important. The fact that procedure was not followed in this case should be a warning for police administrators: thoroughly review operations in the dispatch center and make sure there’s clarity and a heightened sense of awareness regarding the seriousness and importance of each and every call.
Procedure was sloppy on this call – a fact that was discovered only when it turned out to be a case where a life might have been saved had the proper steps been followed – and it’s a safe bet that sloppy procedures have been the case for other calls to the GPD.
Before another dispatcher has to live with the burden of possibly not saving a life that might have been spared, before another family has to wonder about what might have been for their loved one, let’s make sure every call is handled properly at the GPD dispatch center.
