From my colleague Jane Friedmann:
Ramsey County was justified in dismissing a 911 operator for poor job performance, an arbitrator said in a ruling made public by the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services in May.
The county stated that despite Sochinda Keopenchan's efforts and one-on-one coaching she received, she was unable to prioritize calls or convey accurate information to first responders. Her manager said her performance "seriously compromised officer and citizen safety."
In one instance, she failed to recognize the urgency or determine the location of a caller who said he was being attacked by a sword-wielding man.
The union said the county should have followed a schedule of progressive discipline.
The arbitrator decided the June 2009 firing was not a disciplinary action.
Read the full report here.
