COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The filling of the felony clerk’s position in the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office is going to leave Branch County 911 Central Dispatch temporarily with only six dispatchers to cover the 24-hour a day operation.
911 Central Dispatch Supervisor Christine Bennett will be leaving the department after accepting the position in the Prosecutor’s Office.
This marks the third time in the last year that Branch County 911 Central Dispatch has lost dispatchers to other positions in county government, either for better pay or more stable hours.
Two 911 employees transferred to the Sheriff’s Department last fall to fill full time clerical positions. One of those positions opened up when a Sheriff’s Department employee left without notice in late September. The other was to replace a retiring employee.
Contrary to rumors, speculation, and some social media commentary, Branch County 911 Director Kurt Spalding has not resigned his position. Assistant Director Jean Ratkowski says Spalding is frustrated by the continuous manpower issues but he will be back on the job Monday after taking previously scheduled time off this week for a family reunion.
In the meantime, Ratkowski says they hope to bring three additional dispatchers on board in the next few weeks. The new employees will have to undergo three to four months of training with current dispatchers.
Even with the new dispatchers, Branch County 911 will still be short of the 11 dispatchers needed to be considered fully staffed.
