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WARREN -- Trumbull County 911 Director Tacy Bond told Commissioner Niki Frenchko that she recommended the commissioner be charged for misuse of 911 for making repeated nonemergency calls.
Bond discussed the issue during the commissioner public comment period Thursday morning after frequent Frenchko critic, Shawn Shook, spoke about Frenchko's criticism of 911 dispatcher Jeff Ford.
The dispatcher, during the commissioners' Jan. 14 public comment period, asked Frenchko for an apology for the way she spoke to him during a recent 911 phone call she made at 3 a.m. about a neighbor's dog being left outside in the cold without food and water.
During Ford's statement, he accused Frenchko of repeatedly cursing at him during their approximately 8 1/2 minute phone conversation about a barking dog.
Ford noted that while he was on the phone with Frenchko, the 911 center was simultaneously attempting to handle a situation in which a Howland woman had locked herself in a closet because a man in her house had a gun and was threatening her.
Frenchko was telling Ford to send someone to her neighbor's home to check on the dog.
She later admitted cursing during the phone call, but emphasized she was not saying curse words at the dispatcher.
Frenchko also noted that during her conversation with Ford she could hear another dispatcher in the background handling the call about the woman in the closet.
When questioned about the call, Bond noted that Frenchko, on several occasions, had called 911 about the care and condition of the dog in December and in January.
Warren police went to the house several times to check on the dog and complaints about its barking. No citations were written.
Bond advised Frenchko on Feb. 8 to not call Trumbull 911 any further for nonemergency issues, including issues about her neighbor's dog. Bond noted Frenchko had been warned about making nonemergency calls on several occasions.
Frenchko again called Trumbull 911 on Feb. 16.
"Citizens of this county have been cited for misuse of (Trumbull) 911 for less," Bond said during Thursday's meeting.
"I have recommended charges to be filed for misuse of 911. I can't help that none of the agencies have the backbone to deal with this. I certainly do not want to deal with this."
Bond noted that Frenchko is attempting to drag Ford's name through the mud by bringing up a 2011 incident in which he was never charged.
"That is not pertinent to the job he does everyday," Bond said. "Or the job that all of our dispatchers do in handling 235,000 nonemergency calls."
"They are understaffed, underpaid and overworked and now we are dealing with this show," she said.
When questioned by Frenchko who had leaked information about her communications, Bond said it was not any of her employees or herself.
Bond said she responded in writing to Frenchko's questions through emails that were simultaneously sent to all three commissioners, Trumbull County Human Resources Director Alexandra Devengencie-Bush and the deputy 911 director.
Bond previously told Frenchko she would work to stay above the political fray that often surrounds the Trumbull commissioners and has attempted to do so. She denied allegations by Frenchko that she or any of her employees have leaked information to the press and others.
"You owe Mr. Ford, my dispatchers and myself apologies for attacking us for doing our jobs," Bond said.
She noted that Frenchko, during a phone call, stated how she was disappointed in her. Bond noted that she felt her job was being threatened.
Bush said he was investigating the incident.
Frenchko said Bush should not be involved in any investigation, because she is biased against her.
The commissioner did not support Bush being hired as the county’s human resource officer.