By EMS1 Staff
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Former Albuquerque Fire Department dispatcher Matthew Sanchez reached a $25,000 settlement with Bernalillo County after suing over his termination from a new job with the county’s fire department, KRQE reports.
Sanchez, who resigned from the Albuquerque Fire Department in 2015 after hanging up on a 911 caller trying to help a 17-year-old a drive-by gunshot victim, was later hired as a dispatcher for Bernalillo County Fire Department in 2016. However, just days after starting the new position, he was fired. In July 2017, he filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination from his county job, according to KRQE.
Sanchez’s lawsuit claimed he was qualified for the county dispatcher role but was unfairly dismissed. The county has not commented on the litigation.
The lawsuit cited District 5 County Commissioner Wayne Johnson, alleging he influenced Sanchez’s termination by raising concerns about his hiring. In an email obtained by KRQE News 13, Johnson expressed doubts about Sanchez’s ability to serve as a dispatcher given his past actions.
“No matter how well a cadet tests out, you cannot overlook the callous disregard for human life and a person in need demonstrated by his decision to hang up on a caller,” Johnson wrote in the email to the county’s HR department.
Johnson, however, denied directing any specific action against Sanchez. “At no time did I ever direct an outcome,” he stated.
Sanchez’s lawsuit claimed he suffered serious psychological injuries due to his firing. His attorney, Leon Howard, did not respond to requests for comment.
New Mexico health officials had revoked Sanchez’s emergency medical dispatcher license following an investigation by the Department of Health for the 911 hang-up incident in 2015.
911 hang-up call background
Sanchez, who at the time was a 10-year veteran of the Albuquerque Fire Department, was working as a 911 dispatcher on June 26, 2015, when he answered a call from a frantic teenage girl. She was trying to provide aid to Jaydon Chavez-Silver, a Manzano High School student who had been shot in a drive-by. As she struggled to keep him alive, she became upset and swore at Sanchez.
In response, Sanchez told her to “deal with this yourself” before disconnecting the call, 911 audio recordings revealed.
Original story below:
Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico health officials have revoked the license of a former 911 dispatcher who hung up on a teenager who was trying to help a 17-year-old shooting victim.
KOAT-TV reports Matthew Sanchez resigned from the department and his license was suspended after a recording of the call was made public.
The teen later died, and two men are facing charges in the shooting.
A Department of Health investigation led to Sanchez’s license being revoked, preventing him from legally working as an emergency medical dispatcher.
The Sanchez family did not comment. It’s unclear whether Sanchez will appeal the decision.
This article, originally published on Aug. 28, 2015, has been updated to reflect updated information to this case.