Damn, They're Dumb

Speaking Truth to Power, or Toeing the Line?

Ever wonder if those encrusted with the mantle of "progressive" are more open-minded and rational than political rightwingers?

Here's some evidence that many calling themselves progressive are just as bone-headed as the neocons. See the commentary responding to a piece in Uppity Wisconsin on the Dane County Executive's race at http://www.uppitywis.org/cap-times-civil-liberties-yes

The arguments made against presenting facts on Kathleen Falk's (and former Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler's) joining the War on Drugs and the Fourth Amendment boils down to this: Pointing out the facts on policy, judicial campaigns catering to self-proclaimed impartiality and bad government administration is bad for Democrats and progressives, hence not to be spoken or written.

Vis:

- ... Perhaps you can disclose whether you are paid by the Mistele campaign or the Republican party for the service you are doing for them in attacking Falk. ... It's shocking you can call yourself a progreessive after attacking Butler and now Falk.

- You slammed Louis Butler last year ...

Unconvincing.

Cap Times: Civil Liberties, Yes

It's about time someone spoke up against Kathleen Falk's bone-headed approach to addressing the issue of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) and the non-issue of Wisconsin's alleged drinking "culture" problem.

Falk's criminalization and anti-civil liberties OWI agenda drew reproach from her opponent, Nancy Mistele, at the first debate (January) between the two likely candidates for Dane County Executive in the general election in April.

Mistele hit the statist, heavy-handed Falk program by pointing out that personal responsibility and private action were critical vis a vis government's involvement of changing the "culture," to a round of groans from Falk supporters.

Today's Captial Times hits Falk's approach, though not naming Falk as a leading advocate; [wish they had].

... But the drinking culture of Wisconsin -- rooted as it is in the state's broader culture -- is not the problem. There is nothing wrong, per se, with a drinking culture -- especially if it is rooted in good fellowship and good times. ...

But no moves should be made to implement or fund wrongheaded proposals to permit law enforcement authorities to establish checkpoints on Wisconsin roadways.

No matter how they are operated, checkpoints where motorists are forced to pull over even where there is no indication of impaired driving are a form of unreasonable search and seizure that cannot be sanctioned in Wisconsin. Other states, with less regard for basic liberties, may allow checkpoints. But there is insufficient legal or scientific justification to warrant such an intrusion by state and local authorities in a state that has always set a higher standard when it comes to protecting the right to privacy. ...

Checkpoints draw the attention of law enforcement authorities away from the offenders they say they are out to catch and turn it toward citizens who would not be under suspicion.

Wisconsin can crack down on drunken driving without cracking down on the Constitution.

Myself, I'm waiting for Falk to advocate mandatory arrests for being German, Irish or being in college at UW-Madison.

That ought to fix this alleged drinking "culture" problem.

Kathleen Falk's screw-ups on the 911 Center and UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann murder alone disqualify her from this voter's choice for Dane County Executive. The fact that Falk chooses to advocate chopping away at what little is left of the Fourth Amendment just closes the deal to give Falk the boot. Proust!

Nancy Mistele's Challenge to Falk

Update: Mills: "(Q)uite frankly, I have been unimpressed with Falk's leadership, and am deeply concerned by the glaring holes left in her record by the massive fuck-ups with the 911 center." Rath: Falk dodges as Mistele fires

The Dane County Executive race is off and running with the first debate between Nancy Mistele and Kathleen Falk sponsored by the Dane County Public Affairs Council.

Though the political winds of Dane County blow left, this may prove to be a very interesting race in the face of a host of endorsements of Falk and Falk's 911 Center scandal.

As a Dane County writer who penned numerous anti-GOP pieces during the Bush administration reign, I cover the Nancy Mistele-Kathleen Falk race with negative preconceptions about the GOP, and about Falk’s performance in overseeing the 911 Center during and after the murder of UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann [ignoring a report that a “catastrophic” failure was possible], among other gripes.

One aspect of Nancy Mistele that escapes many progressives is that Mistele is not a fire-breathing, right-wing monster that is going to cook liberal children over fire pits hidden on endless miles of urban sprawl.

The message that the Mistele campaign is sending is that of a smart, judicious, consensus-building listener with a genuine appreciation for the environment, an indignation over the Brittany Zimmermann murder and Falk’s indisputable lack of candor, and an admiration of independent journalism.

"Falk has failed and I will fix it [the 911 center]," said Mistele at Wednesday's debate.

Mistele's message will animate the campaign with the ghost of a murdered UW-Madison student haunting this race.

What follows is an e-mail interview with Mistele composed of three questions sent to Mistele’s campaign and Mistele’s responses.

Question 1

Press queries into the conduct of the 911 Center have been, it is asserted, obstructed and stymied by Kathleen Falk as noted in an Isthmus piece by Jason Shepard?

Do you agree that Ms. Falk has been less than candid and open on the Zimmermann scandal? And would the Dane County’s Exec office be more open and transparent generally under a Nancy Mistele administration?

Specifically what would you have done differently on answering press queries on the Zimmermann affair?

It was the Isthmus that accused Kathleen Falk of ‘lying’ about the circumstances surrounding the handling of the 911 call from Brittany Zimmermann. Anyone familiar with the facts surrounding this case would not disagree with the Isthmus’ assessment. Within hours of Brittany Zimmermann’s death, Kathleen Falk and others in her Administration knew of the existence of Zimmermann’s desperate call for help. But, it wasn’t until weeks later that aggressive reporting on this incident blew the lid off the case and revealed the existence of Zimmermann’s desperate 911 call. If Kathleen Falk had her way, these facts would have remained hidden from public view.

In a Nancy Mistele Administration, I can assure you that our emergency responders will have every tool they need, that we will look for the most talented and experienced people to lead our critical public safety operations, and that I will not lie to the public when it comes to matters related to how their tax dollars are being spent and what we are doing to keep the community safe.

When it comes to a homicide investigation, obviously all information cannot be released before someone is apprehended and charged with the crime. But the existence of Zimmermann’s call to 911 was something that should not have been concealed from the public.

Our faith in government has been badly shaken by these tragedies. As County Executive, one of my most important duties will be to earn back the public’s trust, and that starts with always being honest.

Question 2

Dane County has a liberal-leaning electorate. If you are elected to the non-partisan exec’s office, what assurances are you willing to make that you will listen to and compromise with liberals holding policy views that seem to be at variance with your own views? In sum, are you the type of person willing to work with stakeholders to get something done?

I’m willing to work with everyone to improve the quality of life in Dane County, to create more high-paying jobs, and to protect the lives and property of everyone living in Dane County. I am not an ideologue. I am a woman who is willing to listen to all points of view and consider differing opinions. I realize that much of what the Executive can try to accomplish requires County Board approval, and I respect the diverse viewpoints each of these County Board members brings to the table.

The common ground that binds us all together is our collective desire to make Dane County a great place to live and work. We may not always agree on how that should happen, but we should be able to discuss and formulate a common-sense approach that protects and enhances our quality of life without trampling on the rights of others.

Question 3

The environment is key to many voters and the environment holds both a quality-of-life aspect and for deeper environmentalists holds a value in itself in that maintaining eco-systems is an objective of policy at all levels of government.

Is preserving the environment a conservative objective, in your view? What do you offer in your policy positions that would reassure Dane County’s many environmentally conscious voters?

Like most others in Dane County, I am concerned about preservation, open spaces, clean air and clean water. We’ve got a proud tradition in Wisconsin, and particularly in Dane County, of respecting our Natural Resources, and I intend to respect and continue this tradition.

I think there are legitimate discussions we can have about how you balance the need for environmental preservation with the need for communities to grow and develop. If elected, I would not make an effort to immediately 'clean house' at our regulatory bodies, such as CARPC [Capital Area Regional Planning Commission], because I think we need to respect the experience and expertise many of these employees carry. Instead, I would ensure that members of my Administration support appropriate regulations for reasonable growth.

The Falk Campaign folks are already trying to caricature me as an anti-environment extremist. Not true. I’m an avid road biker and think there’s no better way to relax than to spend some time hiking in the woods or kayaking on one of our beautiful lakes. I can assure everyone concerned about the environment that as County Executive, my decision-making would be guided by my deep respect for the environment.

Falk Is Shameless Now

Dane County dispatcher Nathan Waite is a hero.

In the Capital Times we read that Waite is being recognized for some superlative work.

From Mike Miller:

Dane County officials were happy Friday for something positive to celebrate at the 911 Center when they honored dispatcher Nathan Waite for the key role he played in the safe premature birth of a girl on Jan. 12.

Waite was on duty in the 911 Center when Brent and Kimberly Lodewyk of McFarland were rushing to a Madison hospital because Kimberly was facing the imminent birth of their child.

The Lodewyks were forced to pull off the road when the birth was about to occur. A call to the 911 Center was taken by Waite, who calmly instructed Brent Lodewyk on how to help with the birth and baby Katarina before medical help would arrive.

Nice work, Mr. Waite.

But don't forget what's really important here: Kathleen Falk's political career.

Falk jumped right into the picture of-course.

"This is just one of the countless stories of the heroic work our well-trained and dedicated dispatchers do everyday," Falk said.

C'mon. This man's first-rate work does not lessen Falk's failure on the Zimmermann case. Nor does it in anyway excuse Falk's covering up her failures.
And we know perfectly well that the Zimmermann murder is not the end of the story in the defects in the 911 Center that continued under Falk's administration. Madison writer Emily Mills catalogued numerous screw-ups and she hardly looked.

As Falk's likely opponent, Nancy Mistele, notes in a press release:

“I want to congratulate the 911 operator on a job well done, and the story of the 911 Center working as it should is heartwarming. But if Kathleen Falk is going to take credit for the achievements of the 911 center, then she is also going to have to shoulder the blame for its failures.

Since 2004, Kathleen Falk has ignored the advice of experts on how to fix the 911 center.

If Kathleen Falk had heeded those warnings, we’d have a lot more success stories like today’s, and a lot fewer headlines about the center’s failures.

Sadly, Friday’s news conference by Kathleen Falk is more about politics than public pride. It’s taken an election to make our public safety a priority for our current County Executive.

Dane County deserves someone who will put the safety of the community ahead of her political career.”

This never-have-I-ever-voted-Republican elector agrees. I have been asked in so many words, 'why are you trashing Falk, for *&#^ sakes'? [Just got a phone call.]

The short answer is Falk fell down on a critical aspect of the job: The 911 Center. A woman was murdered. And Falk treats the media in the manner of Dick Cheney.

And her latest ploy in pissing on the Fourth Amendment is nothing short of repulsive.

Let's not forget that Falk was all too happy to dump our former incumbent Democratic Attorney General for a far lesser offence.

Hey Guys, you can talk to Nancy Mistele. Check it out.

Falk-Mistele Debate
Jan. 28, Wednesday in Fitchburg
Fitchburg City Hall, 5520 Lacy Road
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Does Wisconsin Still Like the Fourth Amendment?

Update: On the federal level, US SC dilutes the 4th

One repulsive feature in the liberal arguments for routine police roadblocks [advocates call them “sobriety checkpoints”] is one of omission: The absolute refusal to address why roadblocks are offensive to liberty and specifically Fourth Amendment concerns.

Instead, we are treated to 38 other states do it; the Supreme Court’s 4th amendment doctrine of the Roberts Court says it’s okay, and so on.

Whatever happened to the libertarian ethos that we must be suspicious of claims demanding that we hand over our liberty for safety and security?

And when did we start taking our cues on liberty from Chief Justice John Roberts?

From Kathleen Falk, Jim Rowan, and other liberals, there is not so much as lip service paid to Fourth Amendment concerns.

Personally, I’m voting against Kathleen Falk in her reelection bid for Dane County Executive precisely because of her disregard of Fourth Amendment liberties [and her handling of the 911 Center-Zimmermann scandal].

A comment I received on a recent piece on the topic is instructive: Oh, you just must like to smoke pot and drive and you must like drinking and driving.

Apparently, the idea that citizens just like their Fourth Amendment whole and unharmed is incomprehensible to some, to many.

You would think that those who value liberty would begin their advocacy of roadblocks by prefacing how invidious police roadblocks are to the Fourth Amendment, but .... .

But there is not so much as a rhetorical struggle when it comes to proposing roadblocks.

The pro-roadblock crowd doesn’t grabble with such concerns because liberty is no longer a worry as they drunkenly veer into the old lock-them-up, criminalize, get-tough-on-crime nostrums of the last four decades that have resulted in America leading the world in its citizens incarcerated.

“The U.S. has less than 5 percent of the world's population but almost 25 percent of the world's prisoners. The U.S. leads the world in producing prisoners, a reflection of a relatively recent and now entirely distinctive American approach to crime and punishment.” (NYT, Liptak, 04/27/08)

Iran? Saudi Arabia? Get in line, we’re number one in taking away our fellow citizens’ liberty but Rowen and Falk and company want a bigger lead.

But hey, what do James Madison (he’s that Bill of Rights guy after whom we named our capital) and the International Center for Prison Studies at King's College London know anyway?

I say they knew and know a lot about liberty, and as for the liberals who have gone along with (and now lead the way on) this tough-on-crime, war-against-drugs, more-people-in-jail foolishness: YOU'RE THE PROBLEM!

Fourth Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Contact author at: maleon64@yahoo.com
- via mal contends

Bush and Falk

Listening to Bush last night [Bush's goodbye is a festival of self-pity and delusion] is
like listening to Kathleen Falk defend her administration' 911 center work during the murder of Brittany Zimmermann.

Bush and Falk both did well on their own scorecards.

Dane County Exec Kathleen Falk’s Tenure Should End

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk has joined the let’s-set-up-police-roadblocks-(sobriety checkpoints) bandwagon.

See, Falk—she of the let’s-cover-our-asses-fast reaction to the Dane County 911 Center’s widely reported screw-ups leading to the murder of Brittany Zimmermann—says she wants to change the attitudes towards and culture of Wisconsin drinking.

Gee, changing the culture, that's an interesting if unenlightened, proposed role for politicians and elected officeholders.

Anyway, let’s set up “checkpoints,” she advises our governor.

After thinking you see, Falk “… quickly realized that steps must be taken on the level of state policy to help curb the tide of alcohol abuse," Falk writes to Gov. Doyle, it is reported in the State Journal (Matthew DeFour) this morning.

A “tide” in the culture that we must address by draconian measures like "checkpoints" and criminalization?

Is this the precise, sober analysis that we can expect if we reelect Falk?

How about some checkpoints between Kathleen's Falk's administration, Dane County citizens and the 911 Center; you know that emergency thing that is supposed to work during, like, emergencies?

What I see from Falk is a tide of incompetence and bad judgement that led to a young woman’s murder, and now proposed opportunistic police measures better suited to the roadblock-loving folks of Indiana and the Fourth Amendment-hating Bush Department of Justice.

Maybe she’s hoping her tough-on-drinking stands will cover her incompetence and that of her lackey, Joe Norwick, her political appointment, whom she handpicked to run the 911 center in the first place. But Falk says her opponents should not make "political hay" of the Zimmermann tragedy.

Falk, a liberal with whom I generally agree on policy stands, is displaying either an ignorance or apathy of the propriety of checkpoints and criminalization (we need more people in jail), but I think her long screw-up on the Zimmermann case alone earns her the boot.

And I wish the Zimmermann family well in its wrongful death lawsuit against Falk, which I'm sure Falk will go to considerable lengths to dispute. It's Falk political career that's really important, don't you know?

In any event, much as I despise Nancy Mistele’s (Falk's likely opponent this spring) policy stands and am appalled at the thought of at seeing Mistile for four years in the Exec's seat, it’s time to dump Kathleen Falk, because what's really important is the death of a young woman and the liberties and safety our community exists to defend.

On that score, Falk has fallen down on the job.

US Secret Service and Dane County's 911 Center

by globalgirl and mal contends

Madison, WI - We have heard numerous comments in conversation from friends and family fearful that there are just too many bigoted idiots in America to let Barack Obama live to be president.

Our common response is that: Though I do not know it for a fact, the United States Secret Service, created after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, is surely a dynamic, continuously improving organization. A would-be assassin's shot like that taken at Ronald Reagan in 1981 is undoubtedly nearly impossible today. It would take a military assault to get to Obama, I bet, I hope.

Dane County 911 Center

Closer to home another public service and protection agency, the Dane County 911 Center apparently doesn't have a lessons-learned, dynamic approach to quality improvement.

Matthew Defour's piece in Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal reveals that:

Dane County's emergency dispatch center has kept incomplete and disorganized records of police complaints about its shortcomings, limiting its ability to prevent potentially life-and-death mistakes such as those that happened at the 911 center the day Brittany Zimmermann was killed.

Local police, fire and emergency medical workers are part of the problem -- many do not file formal complaints about 911 mistakes, instead relying on casual communication with center officials to correct shortcomings.
But even problems that are communicated in writing are not systematically being recorded, which experts say would allow dispatch center managers to spot troubling patterns and intercede with training.

No one expects the 911 center to have the sophisication of the Secret Service, but Jesus H., the only apparent dyanmic, lessons-learned phase in place has been the reporting of Bill Lueders and Jason Shepard at Isthmus and the Wisconsin State Journal.

Exclusive: Alleged Gruesome Kidnapper Described as “Outgoing and Friendly” by Former Coworker

© 2008 Michael Leon
A man charged with 12 felonies for "allegedly kidnapping ... two men, stripping them, chaining them up in his home, beating them and sexually assaulting them several times" (Wisconsin State Journal, July 15) outside Wisconsin Rapids is described by a former coworker interviewed by mal contends as "friendly, with a good sense of humor."

Edward Lanphear is also being investigated for possible links to the murder of UW-Madison student, Brittany Zimmermann, the Wisconsin State Journal reports, though police say at this time that there is no direct connection other than the facts that Lanphear and Zimmermann are both from Wood County, and that Lanphear had a newspaper article about the Zimmermann case at his residence.

In this exclusive interview conducted by phone, the former coworker, who worked with Lanphear for some eight years in the 1980s and 1990s at the then Consolidated Papers Inc., a paper company based in Wisconsin Rapids, now known as NewPage Corporation, said of Lanphear, "He never, ever gave you the impression of being violent, or even being capable of things like that."

The coworker, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the topic in the small town of Saratoga where the coworker lives, said, upon reading of the story in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune online, "I was dumbfounded. I mean this is completely out of character of the guy I remembered. ... He was outgoing and a big hunter. ... He invited me to go hunting with him once at the Arctic Circle."

Constitutional Incompetence

Dane County's response to the lawsuit filed by the parents of the murdered UW-Madison student, Brittany Zimmermann, is mystifying: the U.S. Constitution "does not require municipalities to rescue persons in distress."

The suit will likely get tossed, but so what?

A young woman was killed, and Dane County failed her.

Settle the suit, and help put this tragedy behind the grieving family. There may not be a constitutional right mandating that our community protects our citizens, but there is an uncontroversial public policy imperative.

Ed Treleven in the Wisconsin State Journal reports:

A federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Dane County and a former 911 dispatcher by the parents of homicide victim Brittany Zimmermann should be dismissed because the county has no constitutional obligation to protect individuals from the acts of others, a response to the lawsuit states.

The response, written as a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, was filed late last month by private attorneys representing Dane County and former dispatcher Rita Gahagan. They were sued last month by Kevin and Jean Zimmermann in U.S. District Court over the response of the 911 center to a call made from their daughter's cell phone around the time of her death on April 2.

For more information, see:

- Falk apologizes to Zimmermann's family, fiance (Capital Times, May 6)
- County Board chair wants answers on 911 problems (Cap Times, May 6)

- Falk apologizes to Zimmermann's family, fiance (Capital Times, May 6)

- Soglin: We all failed Brittany Zimmerman.

***Note*** Contributions in memory of Ms. Zimmermann may be sent to:
The “Dollars for Brittany” scholarship fund
Care of the Brittany Zimmermann Memorial Fund
Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union
P.O. Box 279
Marshfield, WI 54449

Dane County 911 Center Much, Much Better than Nashville's

Nashville, Tennessee 911 operator: "I really just don't give a shit what happens to you."

From David Edwards and Mike Sheehan at Raw Story:

A Nashville woman who waited hours for someone to respond to her call to 911 emergency services didn't hear the worst part of the call.

After Sheila Jones hung up the phone, a local news reporter found that one 911 operator said, "I really just don't give a shit what happens to you."

"I think I'm more hurt than I am mad that my life didn't mean a damn thing to them," said Jones, after hearing the tape played back to her for the first time. Jones had called for help after an ex-boyfriend assaulted and threatened her.

Citizens Leading, Dane County Officials Flailing

Update: Dane County Board spins wheels on Zimmermann 911 call controversy
Madison, WI - "The County Board's mood didn't mirror the public outrage," in questioning "embattled" 911 Center Director Joe Norwick yesterday, reads the Capital Times.

That's likely because the public is of the mind that 911 operators reached ought to err on the side of credulity over disbelief, and callers tend to view defects of these best and needed 911 practices with derision.

There is, the Zimmerman tragedy reveals, a culture of skepticism towards the public at the Dane County 911 Communications Center.

The truth of the matter is Kathleen Falk and her supporters seem interested in political damage control more than anything else.

Reports Nathan J. Comp from yesterday's Norwick appearance:

... Supervisor Eileen Bruskewitz (District 25) did criticize Kathleen Falk for attending a conference in New York rather than the meeting. This looks more to me like a cover up,' Bruskowitz exclaimed, before Board Chairman Scott McDonell (District 1) scolded her comment as inappropriate. ... Supervisor Kurt Schlicht (District 28) said he has been unimpressed with how Norwick, but particularly Falk, has handled the controversy. 'It does seem funny that the leader isn't here when her 911 director is testifying before two committees,' he said after the meeting. 'She isn't genuine and lacks direction. She is in panic mode, not directional mode.'

That seems about right to me. By the way, why in the hell does Joe Norwick still have a job?

Citizens' Committee Needed on 911 Center

Update: Dane County (Madison, WI) Board spins wheels on Zimmermann 911 call controversy

Two committees of the Dane County Board of Supervisors are meeting tonight to gather information on the performance of the Dane County 911 Communications Center in the wake of the murder of Brittany Zimmermann.

Board Chair Scott McDonell and others have called for an audit of the Center focusing on its procedures and whether its procedures are being followed.

It is suggested that such an audit be conducted by an outside firm, free of political considerations.

Good idea.

To complement this reasonable course of action, Dane County needs the establishment of a paid citizens' committee composed of broad communities of interests, devoid of elected officials, and certainly free of civil servants in Dane County, including those serving in the County Executive's office.

Such a committee ought to have as its deliverables:

- The establishment of specific directives to improve the performance of the 911 Communications Center

- A report based on testimony from citizens' use of the 911 service, testimony from UW officials in light of the administration's charge of in loco parentis (and the related duty to prevent the murder of UW students), and the testimony from law enforcement personnel on public safety.

Hard questions need to be asked.

The communities of interests ought to include representatives of the University administration, students, residents, bloggers, retirees, metaphorical bomb throwers, professors, and as wide a cross-section of the county as feasible, and should be fully funded by the City and County.

For example, the members ought include such people as the curmudgeon at the Rustic, the Vietnam vet on Butler Street, and most anybody free of 911-related career and political considerations, but indignant about the fact that We all failed Brittany Zimmerman.

Elected and non-elected civil servants, and law enforcement officials have been making statements today that they are saying too much, perhaps interfering with police investigations.

Maybe so, but many, perhaps most, residents feel a lack of trust toward the County and City on this matter, and secrecy in the absence of a citizens' committee is not the best course of action at this point.

It's worth noting that this issue came to light becaue of the investigative reporting of Jason Shepard in Isthmus and that the community and Shepard were obstructed during and after his piece.

Misplaced Police Priorities

Amid the discordant political backdrop, recriminations abound about whether the murder of a 21-year-old UW-Madison woman could have been prevented.

Aside from proposed audits and spirited defenses of the Dane County 911 Communications Center and other Dane County officials, it's worth noting the priorities and policies of local law enforcement agencies here. [I hope not to read the word 'leadership' again; it doesn't exist on this matter.]

As the routine break-up of house parties and the pursuit by police of other frequent illegal college recreational pastimes continue apace here, one wonders if police officers foot-patrolling neighborhoods at night with the objective of protecting property and persons might be a better use of limited police resources vis-a-vis busting a 19-year-old for having a beer or smoking a joint on campus.

And one less parking meter boy (like that pathetic guy who wears the floppy safari hat), and one more officer walking on the street looking out for a female student walking home at night from the library would certainly do.

The culture of skepticism of callers' intent that pervades the 911 call center, '(s)hort-staffed almost always' (Isthmus), ought to draw the attention of the proposed audit, as well.

The imperatives of judgment, discretion, and priorities in public safety become clearer when tragedy strikes.

Local Media for Coverage of Brittany Zimmermann Fall-out

- Isthmus

- Uppity Wisconsin

- Dane County 101

- Capital Times

- Wisconsin State Journal

County/City Resources

- Madison Common Council: Alders

- Board of Supervisors - Dane County, Wisconsin

- Dane County 911 Communications Center

- Madison Police Department

- Dane County Executive

Capital Times' Coverage Lagging in UW-Madison Death

Update: Cap Times back on it: See - Falk apologizes to Zimmermann's family, fiance (Capital Times, May 6) and County Board chair wants answers on 911 problems (Cap Times, May 6).

- Falk apologizes to Zimmermann's family, fiance (Capital Times, May 6)

- Soglin: We all failed Brittany Zimmerman.

via MAL Contends

I was sorry to see the Capital Times hard copy newspaper go, but I told a friend its online iteration was an innovation that would see it stay on the bleeding edge of technology in bringing Dane County residents the news.

But Isthmus and the Wisconsin State Journal have been massacring the Capital Times in their coverage of the biggest local news story that has residents outraged—the Brittany Zimmermann murder and the failure of the Dane County 911 Center to send a police unit in time to save her life.

No doubt the Capital Times remains dedicated to bringing readers the news, but as measured by breaking coverage, general and investigative reporting, and incisive editorial comment, Isthmus and the Wisconsin State Journal are the go-to media for the latest on the Brittany Zimmermann murder and the Dane County 911 Center scandal.

The Capital Times has prided itself on its historical commitment to covering local issues of concern to readers.

But its start as an online medium as exemplified in its coverage on the Brittany Zimmermann murder-Dane County 911 Center story is inauspicious.

***Note*** Contributions in memory of Ms. Zimmermann may be sent to:

The “Dollars for Brittany” scholarship fund
Care of the Brittany Zimmermann Memorial Fund
Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union
P.O. Box 279
Marshfield, WI 54449

Dane County 911 Center Looks to Save Itself in Wake of Murder of 21-year-old Woman

Update: - Soglin: We all failed Brittany Zimmerman.

WI State Journal Edit (May 4, 2008), No apology? You better find one. WI State Journal (p.1) (May 4, 2008) 2004 report warned of 911 Center problems; Co officials warned to increase staffing, change procedures. - Falk apologizes to Zimmermann's family, fiance (WSJ, May 6) - Expert calls Dane County 911 staffing inadequate (WSJ, May 6)

The first rule in crisis management for public servants is not Save your ass.

It's serve the public.

So when the public clamors for answers about why a 21-year-old UW-Madison student was murdered in early April, and asks what could have been done to prevent her death, the response ought to be openness, transparency and honesty.

Unfortunately, the Dane County 911 Center doesn't see it that way, and the stonewalling has begun.

Jason Shepard writing for the Madison weekly, Isthmus, has run into a brickwall in his reporting on the death of Brittany Zimmermann (pictured above; Isthmus Publishing Co.).

Shepard broke a story today that Zimmermann "called 911 before she was stabbed and beaten to death inside her Doty Street apartment, but the 911 Center failed to send help after erroneously concluding the call was a mistake."

Now, as the media and an appalled public look for answers, Shepard, and Isthmus, are being shut out by the Dane County 911 Center.

Writes Shepard:

Over the past two and a half weeks, the 911 Center has refused requests for basic information about the calls. This week, Joe Norwick, director of the Dane County 911 Center since July, declined further opportunities to comment after being provided with a written summary of parts of this story.

In an email, Norwick said he was basing his refusal on a request from the Madison Police Department to withhold all information 'pertaining to this matter' because release would 'seriously impair' the murder investigation.

Bullshit.

Reports Bill Lueders in Isthmus:

At a press conferencethis afternoon, Madison Police Chief Noble Wray responded to the growing media feeding frenzy over the Brittany Zimmermann case by tossing a body to the assembled hungry reporters. His name was Joe Norwick. ... Wray released a statement saying 'there is evidence in the call, which should have resulted in a Madison police officer being dispatched.' He provided a copy of the MPD’s policy, which says officers should be dispatched to cell phone calls if the dispatcher 'has reason to believe that police services are needed.' Wray also confirmed that 'technology exists where we can get either very close to, or the exact location' of, a cell-phone call.

So, is Chief Wray seriously impairing the murder investigation in being open about what happened in the 911 call?

No, he's leveling with the public that he has sworn to protect and serve.

Norwick should step up, now, and release the tape, and offer a full accounting of what happened.