Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced the hiring of John Dejung as the new director of the 911 Center last Thursday.

The position was held on an interim basis by Kathy Krusic after former Director Joe Norwick was forced to resign following the mishandling of a 911 call from the cell phone of University of Wisconsin junior Brittany Zimmermann the day she was stabbed in her downtown apartment.

For the past 12 years, Dejung, a UW graduate, has served as the director of Minneapolis’ 911/311 program, where he managed the E-911 technology upgrade of the center and the replacement of the center’s Computer Aided Dispatch system.

“The [911] Center board interviewed a number of applicants last week,” Falk said. “I interviewed three and chose [Dejung], and I entered him into a five-year contract that goes to county board for its review.”

Falk added she is confident the board will approve Dejung.

County Board Chair Scott McDonnell, District 1, said in an e-mail to The Badger Herald Dejung was the top choice of the board because he was the most qualified of the applicants.

Although Falk makes the final decision regarding whom to employ as the new director of the 911 Center, the County Board need to confirm the employment, McDonell added.

“By law, it is my choice (to choose the 911 Director), subject to conformation by the County Board, which is restarting its review [last Thursday],” Falk said.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he thinks Dejung is a tremendous choice and he thinks Falk deserves a lot of credit for attracting a candidate of his caliber.

In 2008, the Minneapolis 911 Center was awarded the 911 Call Center of the Year Award for its handling of the 2007 Minneapolis I-35 bridge collapse.

In an email to the Herald, Jon Horne, spokesperson for Nancy Mistele, Falk’s challenger for county executive in the April 7 election, said by all indications, Dejung is much more qualified than Joe Norwick, the center’s previous director.

“Every day we didn’t have this new director in place, the public was placed at risk of another 911 failure,” Horne said.

Krusic did not apply for the director position.

“Joe Norwick was the first choice by the Public Safety Board unanimously confirmed by County Board,” Falk said. “(Norwick) was not a controversial tick.”