LAWTON — COVID-19-related illnesses are contributing to a labor shortage that could eventually harm the city’s ability to serve people effectively, City Manager Michael Cleghorn said Monday.
“If trends continue, both in our organization and in the community at large, it is a very real possibility that essential services provided by the city of Lawton could be impaired,” he said.
Cleghorn and other city officials spoke about the employee shortage during a press conference at City Hall. The event updated people about the shortage and highlighted the importance of getting vaccinated against coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The city is trying to fill 130 openings across all departments, including 10 in the Emergency Communications Center alone. Illnesses linked to COVID-19 are depleting the city’s workforce even further.
Lawton firefighters and former dispatchers who are now working in other city departments are pitching in to help at the ECC, and Lawton Police Department patrol officers are also lending a hand on occasion.
About 15 staffers have been loaned to the ECC to answer calls since early August, Cleghorn said.
“It is not true that any firefighters have had to stand down to make this possible,” he said. “But again, we could be on the brink of that.”
Cleghorn said the city is taking steps to recruit more dispatchers, such as boosting their starting pay and offering other incentives, including paid birthday leave.
Deputy City Manager Dewayne Burk said firefighters who are helping out at the ECC are uniquely trained to identify locations throughout the city and know how to handle certain types of calls.
“They’re not taking 911 calls,” he said. “It is true; it does take a period of time to learn all the dispatching protocols for dissecting a 911 call and assisting the public – citizens – when they call in.”
Burk said firefighters routinely use the radio to communicate in everyday language, which makes it easier for them to take over a fire console and handle dispatching duties.
Deputy Fire Chief Jared Williams said the situation has not forced the fire department to delay response times or send smaller crews to fight structure fires. He added that the department’s top concern is ensuring the safety of firefighters as well as Lawton residents.
“We’re not going to run short in a structure fire setting,” Williams said.
Lawton Police Department officers who are working through job-related injuries may be sent to the ECC to assist as needed, according to community relations director Tiffany Martinez Vrska. She said the city adopted this practice several years ago, since an on-the-job injury may prevent patrol officers from performing their normal duties.
Vrska also said in the last few months, patrol officers have occasionally helped field ECC calls on low-volume days. She said those officers can answer questions on specific police matters for citizens, which saves an officer from having to respond in person to a call.