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County 911 dispatcher claims retaliation for complaints about sleeping co-worker
A lawsuit in which a former Allegheny County 911 dispatcher claims she was fired because she complained about another dispatcher sleeping on the job has been moved to federal court.
Maureen Beaumont originally sued Allegheny County Emergency Services in June in Common Pleas Court.
The case was transferred Friday to U.S. District Court because it involves constitutional claims of retaliation.
Ms. Beaumont was fired in January after the 911 center said she harassed another dispatcher. She claimed that the real reason was that she had reported the woman to her supervisors for sleeping on the job when she should have been taking calls, which she said created a risk to the public.
In April an arbitrator ruled that Ms. Beaumont had been improperly fired and ordered the 911 center to reinstate her, according to her complaint, but her lawsuit will still proceed in U.S. District Court.
Ms. Beaumont is suing on counts of retaliation in violation of the First Amendment and the state Whistleblower Act.
Call 8888/Dial 9-1-1
Executive Order (EO) 06, signed by President Duterte on October 14, 2016, institutionalized the 8888 Citizen’s Complaint Hotline and established the 8888 Citizen’s Complaint Center. This is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, which provides that the State shall take appropriate measures to promote transparency in each government agency with regard to the manner of transacting with the public with the objective of reducing red tape and expediting transactions in the government.
The 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center shall serve as a mechanism where citizens may report their complaints and grievances on acts of red tape, as defined under RA 9485 and other relevant laws, and/or corruption of any national government agency, government-owned or -controlled corporation/government financial institution and other instrumentalities of the government (Section 2, EO 6). The 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center shall be under the direction and supervision of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS).
Concerned government agencies and offices shall designate their respective focal and technical officers who shall assist the OCS in its collaboration efforts, and interconnection and integration of public feedback mechanisms (Section 4, EO 6).
