Are all 911 call takers now under suspicion?

No one would question that the call to the 911 center regarding Brittany Zimmermann was quite improperly handled. But having heard the conversation from the lady calling about the idling car, I would not have thought the dispatcher would be subject to discipline of any kind.

The woman's voice and demeanor came across to me as just a busy-body calling to complain about something (which is not to say that's what she is). She never even mentioned there was someone in the car.

If we are now going to go after all 911 dispatchers, I recommend that for every call they take, they should immediately ask to be put through to Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano, and then call Truax to ask for a couple of F-16s to take off to investigate.

-- Anthony Schweitzer, Marshall

More training needed by all at 911 Center

It seems to me 911 Director Kathy Krusiec needs further training, too.

She found no fault in the non-emergency call of the idling vehicle? The call taker showed negligence in not asking pertinent questions. The general public is not trained on what to ask or say -- the call taker is.

And a script is now needed for non-emergency calls? What about common sense? The first question that comes to my mind is whether or not anyone is in the vehicle. Then go on from there.

I believe the center needs to seriously change its hiring practices and avoid future, unnecessary tragedies.

-- Tari Piediscalzzi, Madison

Looks like open season on emergency workers

With all the lawsuits you read about against our police officers, firefighters, 911 centers and so on, why doesn't the state just pass a law to limit all lawsuits against these fine people who are just trying to do their jobs protecting and aiding people?

They get little respect, I might add, but a lot of second guessing by people who see an easy buck to be made.

Pass such a law, or just disband all of these public services and place them into private hands. Let the people who complain pay for it themselves.

-- Terrance Okeson, Madison