On December 15, 2014 the Consolidated Dispatch Agency Director Tim Lee, fired three veteran dispatchers for not following proper protocol on premise hazards.
Now, more than a year later, the three veteran dispatchers, Darryl Newman, Gwendolyn Forehand and Doyal Hester, have filed a lawsuit in federal court.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court by Tallahassee attorneys Fred Flowers and Stephen Turner.
Sources told TR that negotiations with the CDA Board failed to reach an acceptable settlement.
Former CDA Directror Tim Lee, who was recently dismissed, fired the three employees for failing to follow proper protocol in an incident that led to the death of Leon County Sheriff’s deputy Chris Smith.
However an audit by the City of Tallahassee after their dismissal highlighted many problems at the CDA.
In one instance, the audit found “areas for which formal policies and procedures have not been completed as of the date of our review included, for example, premises hazards, training, and fire dispatching.” (Page 104 City Audit 1505 )
TR’s report on the audit can be read here.
Check back for updates.
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Interesting to note that all three were formerly employed by the City as dispatchers and all three had solid records. They were made scapegoats at the outset and will likely prevail. It will be interesting to see if there is a settlement. This may be another case of principle trumping payout. The City’s soon arriving federal jury trial with a former firefighter is another one to keep an eye on.