CINCINNATI, OH - The City of Cincinnati’s Community Responder program was the subject of formal complaints issued by Cincinnati’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union Local 48 on the basis that the program stands in violation of their respective collective bargaining agreements.
Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober told FOX19 NOW, “It’s a danger to the public,” describing the initiative to have so-called “community responders” answer "non-emergency issues reported to 311 and 911 that do not require a police officer’s response." He added, “These folks clearly don’t have the training police officers do, but they have them going out and trying to engage in those activities.”
The program of the Cincinnati Emergency Communications Center (ECC) employs non-sworn, civilian city employees “to make an initial assessment of a report to 311 about traffic hazards, signal malfunctions, or possible water main breaks,” and respond to 911 calls to “handle low-level crisis situations in lieu of police, connecting those in crisis with resources.”
According to WXIX, the Cincinnati FOP issued a cease and desist order to the city in August 2024 to advise the city that a renegotiation of their union agreements with police and firefighters would be required if they went forward with the plan. Kobert told reporters Monday, “They didn’t do that.”
Subsequently in October, the FOP filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the City Government. Kober told the outlet that the program has generated problems since the end of the year.
The Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union followed suit with its own cease and desist in January with allegations that firefighters had lost work in their bargaining unit. Union Chief Joe Elliot explained in a statement, “Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union Local 48 fully supports innovative solutions to improve public safety, but not at the expense of the well-being of our community or the effectiveness of our emergency response system.”
The Ohio State Employment Relations Board has responded to the complaint from the FOP and will be initiating mediation proceedings between the city and the union.
Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober told FOX19 NOW, “It’s a danger to the public,” describing the initiative to have so-called “community responders” answer "non-emergency issues reported to 311 and 911 that do not require a police officer’s response." He added, “These folks clearly don’t have the training police officers do, but they have them going out and trying to engage in those activities.”
The program of the Cincinnati Emergency Communications Center (ECC) employs non-sworn, civilian city employees “to make an initial assessment of a report to 311 about traffic hazards, signal malfunctions, or possible water main breaks,” and respond to 911 calls to “handle low-level crisis situations in lieu of police, connecting those in crisis with resources.”
According to WXIX, the Cincinnati FOP issued a cease and desist order to the city in August 2024 to advise the city that a renegotiation of their union agreements with police and firefighters would be required if they went forward with the plan. Kobert told reporters Monday, “They didn’t do that.”
Subsequently in October, the FOP filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the City Government. Kober told the outlet that the program has generated problems since the end of the year.
The Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union followed suit with its own cease and desist in January with allegations that firefighters had lost work in their bargaining unit. Union Chief Joe Elliot explained in a statement, “Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union Local 48 fully supports innovative solutions to improve public safety, but not at the expense of the well-being of our community or the effectiveness of our emergency response system.”
The Ohio State Employment Relations Board has responded to the complaint from the FOP and will be initiating mediation proceedings between the city and the union.
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Comments
38 days ago | Comment by: Bruce
Just wait until a community responder is injured or killed. That will put a stop to the program, and cost the city $$$.
38 days ago | Comment by: James
CENSORED AGAIN ..... SO QUIT ..... LEAVE the equipment, It BELONGS to The PEOPLE .... AND GET OUT .... Volunteer firefighters are MORE efficient and less costly ANYWAY and VIGILANTE communities are WAY safer and FAR NICER and FRIENDLIER communities ..... I KNOW .... I have lived in them .....