January 1, Buffalo Shooting: 911 Dispatcher Loses Job

The 911 dispatcher accused of hanging up on a grocery store employee during the deadly shooting in Buffalo last month has been fired.

The Erie County Department of Personnel told CNN that the unnamed dispatcher was placed on paid administrative leave on May 16. County Executive Mark Poloncarz said a hearing was held on May 30 to “terminate the 911 call taker who acted totally inappropriately, not following protocol.”

The news comes after Latisha Rogers, the assistant office manager at Tops Friendly Markets, said the 911 dispatcher had hung up on her while she called to report the active shooter.

Rogers said she had been whispering to remain undetected by the shooter.

“Please send help, there’s a person in the store shooting,” Rogers said, in part.

“‘What? I can’t hear you,'” the dispatcher responded. “‘Why are you whispering? You don’t have to whisper, they can’t hear you.'”

Rogers told the outlet that the dispatcher was so dismissive that it has compounded her trauma.