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# Dispatch needs to be reviewed
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dispatch-needs-to-be-reviewed-editor/
- Published: 2008-09-01T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:54:34.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By David Arnold Santa Monica*

Editor:

Fire Chief Jim Hone just doesn’t get it. More than a year and a half ago, he and his cohort in incompetence, Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Davis, outsourced fire dispatch operations to the behemoth and beleaguered LA City Fire Department (OCD). The fact that Santa Monica Fire Dispatchers were well known for providing exemplary service to the community did not stop Hone and Davis from their grave decision. In response to complaints against OCD, Davis showed his (and apparently Hone’s) true colors when he told the Daily Press, “Either way we’re still financially ahead of what we would have been.” (SMDP May 28, 2008). I argue that saving a few dollars is not as important as safeguarding the lives and property SMFD members are sworn to protect. Since the transition, response times have increased and many serious mistakes have been made. Susan Hartley wrote in her letter to the editor (SMDP June 12, 2008) about a fire reported in an alley and the mis-dispatch that resulted in no fire department response.

City Council made clear their dismay with the level of service OCD has been providing at the May 21 council meeting. Councilman Genser said, “I think it’s time we just moved on, moved on in a deliberative and thoughtful way, but I think we need to move on.” Councilman McKeown said, “I’ve heard enough information at this point, some of which might be anecdotal, but I think has been widely consistent that there is confusion. There are things that are happening now with this regional dispatch that never happened when we handled it locally as far as a lack of specific knowledge of our city. I think we as a council owe to our city and to our firefighters to get back to that level of excellence enjoyed before.”

Hone should know that the only serious and smart move would be to bring fire dispatch back and run it locally. The city spent tens of millions of dollars building the Public Safety Facility for police and fire dispatches only to see Hone outsource this highly critical step in the public safety process to the overworked and understaffed OCD. Furthermore, City Council made their intent clear in the May 22 meeting only to be ignored by Hone.

OCD recently received a 911 call from an elderly female. The woman complained of blood in her stool and stated that she felt like she was going to die. However, the Los Angeles dispatcher must have been distracted because he dispatched the call as a person being stabbed. Santa Monica paramedic Engine 5 was dispatched along with two police units. When it was determined by Engine 5 that the call was strictly medical in nature and no stabbing had occurred, Engine 5’s members were not happy. It is imperative for excellent patient care that responding units know the general nature of the emergency to which they are enroute. The captain and engineer on Engine 5 filed a written complaint with fire administration. However, I have been told by several Santa Monica firefighters that complaints are not taken seriously.

I suggest the council look closely at Hone’s performance since becoming chief. Hone showed a considerable lack of judgment when he decided to outsource fire dispatch services. Several firefighters have told me that morale within the department is at its lowest level. This is not the fire department residents and visitors of the city require. Immediate improvement in 911 services must occur. I urge community members to contact their city council representatives and share their views.

David Arnold

Santa Monica

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*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 1, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/090108.pdf?ref=smdp.com)