White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Police Comment on WPCNR Misconception on Saturday Power Outage.

WPCNR SERGEANT JOE FRIDAY REPORTS. From Officer on Duty. February 24, 2003: Saturday, WPCNR reported my experience reporting a power outage on one block in Havilands Manor. The officer on duty at that hour wrote WPCNR today to explain how the police handle this kind of situation.

The officer assures citizens that the White Plains Police are in direct touch with Con Edison when they have to be, and WPCNR reprints his explanation, and thanks the officer for taking the time to explain how an electrical failure is handled by the White Plains Police:

I just finished reading your power outage article and I am disappointed you would be so irresponsible to your readers, telling them the police don't have one on one access to Con Ed.

In the event of a true emergency (electric, gas, etc.), the police can call Con Ed. on a private, confidential phone line. This is a number used by emergency services and is strictly for true emergencies, not to find out how long it will take to restore power during a minor power failure.

How do I know this? I am the police officer you spoke with when you called the police. What you don’t understand, and I say this with as much due respect possible… when the electricity goes out in a city such as White Plains, the switchboard in police communications can get quiet hectic.

My job as a call taker is to assure you we are aware of the condition and that Con Ed is aware and move on to the next call, or assist you with whatever special circumstances the power failure has caused you (ie. you require electricity to run medical equipment).

Had I spent the time educating you on the way things work during a time when there was a power failure, people on hold who are trying to report emergencies to me would be losing critical time that could be spent dispatching a police officer, ambulance, or fire truck to them.

Besides this, how would a police officer know how long it would take a Con Edison worker to do his job. I could have told you a lie and said it would be back on shortly, but that would not be professional or responsible of me.

As a reporter, I caution you to use more care in jumping to conclusions about what you report. You should know that the WPPD has a good working relationship with the community we serve and would be willing to educate you on how things work under more appropriate circumstances.

By reporting to the public that emergency services in White Plains is in any way inadequate is very irresponsible and unprofessional of you. You should be proud to live in a community that has such high standards and is prepared to handle whatever emergency comes its way.


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