I have seen bad, poor, good and excellent care co-existing side by side. Families have described to me good experiences, terrible experiences. It is patchy, it is inconsistent and what this investigation is about, is trying to find out the things that move us from poor and bad to good and excellent.
Across the country, emergency call centers are short-staffed, underfunded, and losing dispatchers faster than they can replace them. A 2023 survey found that one in four 911 positions nationwide is vacant, and 36% of centers reported having fewer positions filled in 2022 than in 2019. Martinez explains to Business Insider how dispatchers decide who gets help first for police, ambulance, and fire services, why they sometimes have to drop one call to save another, and the "caller hacks" that can literally save your life.
"Literally no one ever mentions direct care workers. I work with people with disabilities. I've been at my job for almost 10 years, and I've gotten maybe four raises." - jessicalewis2
Interviews with current and former prosecutors suggest the hiring slowdown stems from a mixture of budget and political pressures. Hiring freezes have stalled recruitment, and pay raises have made bringing in new talent more expensive. The Department of Justice is also mired in turmoil under Trump, with sagging morale and potential recruits possibly worried about taking on ethically murky casework.
Negligence in staffing, exacerbated by recent departures, risks inadequate weather preparedness, which could lead to severe consequences during an increasingly volatile summer storm season.
Sheriff Robert Luna expressed pride in employees' efforts during the staffing crisis, highlighting the immense workload placed on current deputies without adequate support.
