Worker caught sleeping 2nd time

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

LORDSTOWN

A midnight-shift dispatcher with the Lordstown Police Department was suspended without pay for four days in February for sleeping on the job for a second time in seven months.

Jim Luonuansuu, who also is a Newton Falls councilman and was a vocal opponent of consolidation of county dispatching operations, was a part-time Lords-town dispatcher from Nov. 6, 2000, until Dec. 24, 2007, when he became full time.

Brent B. Milhoan, Lordstown police chief, walked into the police station Feb. 2 and observed Luonuansuu sleeping. Luonuansuu works from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. It is a one-person job.

Luonuansuu did not challenge the accusation or punishment and served the four days Feb. 9-12.

In a letter to Milhoan, Luonuansuu apologized, noted that he had entered an accident report into the computer system 10 minutes before the incident and had just returned to work from two weeks off because of back problems.

Luonuansuu likewise did not challenge the allegation of sleeping on the job July 22, 2009.

“I have no defense to offer you other than I was watching TV in the dispatch area and simply fell asleep,” Luonuansuu said in a letter to the chief.

Luonuansuu received a physical exam after the February incident, and the doctor cleared him to work, Milhoan said.

The chief said Luonuansuu understands that if he is guilty of sleeping on the job again, he will be fired.

Luonuansuu did not return a call seeking his comments.

“That’s an important position,” Milhoan said of dispatcher. “They’re an important cog in the wheel, and they have to be able to do that job — answer 911 calls and talk to the officers.”

Milhoan added, “I did that job, and it’s hard to stay awake, but you have to be fit for duty. We sent a message that this will not be tolerated,” he said.

In 2007, in response to efforts by Trumbull County 911 director Michael Dolhancryk to bring independent dispatching centers such as Lordstown’s into the county 911 operation, Luonuansuu spoke in opposition at a meeting of Newton Falls City Council and meetings involving dispatching officials from around the county.

Lordstown’s dispatching operation serves the village of Lordstown and Warren Township.