Columbia’s former 911 director receives top award

Columbia’s former Emergency Management Director was back in the city Tuesday night to be honored.

Zim Schwartze received an award from Missouri 911 Operators recognizing her work as a 911 official.

” Tonight was incredible,” said Schwartze . “I had no idea this was going to go on.”

This comes nearly two years after Schwartze filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Columbia. She was let go in 2012 before taking a similar job in Springfield.

Leaders claim it was a cost-cutting move, but Schwartze claims she was fired after refusing to resign, and escorted off the property.

Schwartze had been in Columbia for more than 20 years, and was also a police captain.

Tuesday night Schwartze said , “I can tell you that I started at Columbia/Boone with the 911 folks there and they showed me what 911 really is. I was able to move that knowledge and skills they’ve given me down to Springfield/Greene County so it [tonight] means quite a bit to me.”