Calling 911 when you are an elected official

DC City Council photo

After hearing the details of a December 14 emergency call from some sources working at the District of Columbia Office of Unified Communications (OUC), the city’s 911 center, I had my colleagues at 9NEWS NOW request a copy of the recording through the Freedom of Information Act.

This is not a fire call. It is a call for police service. The caller is DC Councilmember David Catania. The call was first mentioned in a Washington Times article on December 15 , covering a hearing about the city’s 911 service. From that article it was made clear that this call did not go well, and Councilmember Catania complained about the level of service he received.

STATter 911 and 9NEWS NOW have covered many issues at OUC, particularly delays in alerting DC Fire and EMS to emergency calls. We are still trying to get some answers, and the recording of the fire at the Old Executive Office Building last week. In that case there has been no explanation why the call was dispatched to the wrong street address.

But on the 911 call made by David Catania, there are many who dispute that the problem was solely at OUC. Now that the 911 call is out, you get to be the judge. Listen for yourself.

Listen to Councilmember David Catania’s call to 911