Brown County police and fire groups voice support for 911 dispatchers calling for change

BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY) - Multiple fire departments and police associations signed a letter voicing support for 911 dispatchers who have been calling for change at the county’s 911 center.

Earlier this month, a Brown County dispatcher resigned during a Public Safety Committee meeting, citing working conditions inside the center. In February, multiple dispatch workers spoke to Action 2 News anonymously to raise concerns of poor working conditions.

According to our previous reports, 26 people have left the Brown County dispatch center since the beginning of 2025, including seven with over a decade of tenure.

In a letter issued Friday, addressed to the Brown County Board of Supervisors and the Public Safety Committee, firefighters and police voiced their support for dispatchers raising their concerns:

To the Brown County Board of Supervisors and the Public Safety Committee,

We write to express strong support for Brown County’s dispatchers and to urge action to improve recruitment and retention.

Dispatchers are a vital part of emergency response, serving as the first point of contact in crises and providing critical coordination for law enforcement, fire, and EMS. Current staffing shortages have created excessive workloads, forced overtime, and unsafe conditions, increasing the risk of errors that could impact both responders and the public.

Turnover has also risen significantly, including the loss of experienced staff, which adds further strain and reduces institutional knowledge. Concerns about training, communication, and long-term sustainability highlight the need for immediate and sustained improvements.

Addressing these challenges requires competitive hiring strategies, better retention efforts, professional development opportunities, and meaningful engagement with current staff.

Investing in dispatchers is essential to maintaining reliable emergency services and protecting community safety. We urge county leadership to prioritize both immediate and long-term solutions to ensure the safety of citizens, officers, and first responders.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Brown County Sheriff’s Office Non-Supervisory Labor Association

Ashwaubenon Public Safety Officers Association

De Pere Police Benevolent Association

Green Bay Professional Police Association

Pulaski Police Department personnel

Wrightstown Police Department personnel

Green Bay Metro Fire Department personnel

Howard Fire Department personnel

Suamico Fire Department personnel

De Pere Professional Firefighters Welfare Association

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Action 2 News spoke with Brown County Supervisor Patrick Evans, who urged county executive Troy Streckenbach to look into the problems employees are bringing up.

“If you look at the organizations, it lends credibility to what the employees have been saying. The county board, we understand there are problems, except we do not have authority over any department heads. That’s the executive, so Executive Streckenbach needs to really look into this now because people are really understanding there’s a cultural problem in that communication center, and it needs to be fixed,” said Evans.

During the March 18 meeting, Public Safety Communications Director Chancy Huntzinger told the committee that recent data from 2026 shows improvement. According to Huntzinger, overtime is down 40%, and 100% of 911 calls are being answered within 15 seconds.

In a statement to WBAY on Friday, Huntzinger said: “Brown County recognizes the importance of having its 911 center staffed by competent, skilled professionals, and continues to take measures to attract and retain such 911 operators. Previously, the County increased 911 operator wages, and hired a consultant to review operations and make best practice recommendations which the County currently continues to implement. In the last several years, starting pay grew by over 30%, and now goes up to $32.92 per hour, not including retention pay, signing bonuses, specialty pay and specialty overtime pay. While changes to governmental functions, such as those recommended as best practices by the consultant, are often opposed, these changes are necessary to ensure the safety of citizens, officers, and first responders.

Eight individuals have been hired and are currently being trained for these positions, two of which we anticipate will complete their training within the next two weeks. In addition, the County continues to utilize outside employee resources as appropriate while training occurs. Current staffing levels have not created unsafe conditions, and our turnover rate is below the national average for 911 center operators."

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