what is going on here?

A friend of mine informed me the other day that the dispatchers at the newtown police dept are now not allowed to leave to pick up lunch? Dont they work 12 hr shifts? He said the "cant get lunch" rule was put in by the director of dispatch. With all they have endured in the last year I find this quite disturbing and unrealistic. I think there might be labor laws in place that would dispute this. I know i have been in there and have seen them eating lunch and dispatching at the desk. Is there not a lunch room in the pd where they could go? I guess if they are not allowed to leave now to go get lunch, its a moot point. I know I will be stopping by and bringing them lunch. Maybe pat should look into this. I hate to imagine she is aware of this and allows it. RS