Video: Lincoln Park’s very, very bad day
posted at 2:35 pm on May 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
What happens when you let an F-word fly while calling 911? In a case of a young woman in Lincoln Park, it landed her in jail while her father suffered seizures on her kitchen floor (via Radley Balko at Hit & Run)
I’m in a unique position on this story, since I’ve had to call 911 on several occasions because of the First Mate’s health problems over the years. I’ve also run emergency-response centers and trained the people on the other side of the phone. In times of stress, people use foul language, but call center professionals should be prepared to deal with that situation without making the problem exponentially worse.
First, in training, we emphasized that operators should not take calls personally, and that there is a big difference between using the F-word as an adjective or adverb, or using it to call someone names. We trained people to de-escalate stress situations in order to ensure that we provided the proper level of service and didn’t actively make a bad situation worse. That’s exactly what happened here on this call; the sergeant who handled this three times was more concerned about being personally offended over language not even directed at him than he was in resolving a crisis.
That being said, the Lincoln Park PD took the right course of action. A highly-decorated 20-year veteran can have a bad day, too, and he shouldn’t lose his job over it. If he had worked for me, I’d try to save his job, too. In fact, the community owes him more support than others in that situation, especially considering the dedication he has shown to his community; he doesn’t deserve the perp-chase interview he got from the TV station. The chief may want to consider whether he should get a different assignment, but hopefully retraining will keep the situation from occurring again. However, the sergeant should be joined on his “vacation” by the person who decided to arrest the young woman instead of straightening out the situation when she arrived at the station.
Blowback
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The next time my little girl has blood gushing from her head, and she’s not responsive, I’ll remain calm and nonplussed about the whole thing. Hell, maybe I’ll throw a roast in the oven and put tea on for the paramedics, too.
Or, I’ll be human in my response, and if a naughty word slips out, so be it.
Anna on May 4, 2009 at 3:21 PM
It looks like he didn’t get the memo about training. Definitely, people get emotional during emergencies, and a professional has to be resilient in situations like this.
That being said, hopefully he’s being proactive and studying Hooked-On-Ebonics tonight. He’s just not adapting himself quickly enough to keep up with devolving 21st Century American mores.
Poor guy.
jeff_from_mpls on May 4, 2009 at 3:21 PM
He handled it badly. Agreed. He needs a break.
She too handled it badly.
1. Foul-mouth reaps foul-fruit. Though she is not using vulgarities to personally insult the 911 officer she shouldn’t throw foul words at a stranger. Period. I’m not justifying his actions. Suppose her father’s life wasn’t on the line. There are two many kids that I encounter everywhere where cussing is in every sentence.
2. Survival instinct. When one is desperate to save themself or another, wisdom whows them the necessity to adapt to a bad situation. She should have stopped cussing. I know she’s desperate but she should have changed her strategy for her father’s sake. Instead she chose to be stubborn over the necessity to help her father.
shick on May 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Oh, c’mon … even the lamest of trolls can’t approach the utter stupidity of “bigskinny”. What meds did you forget take today?
corona on May 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
If you can’t use profanity in an emergency 911 call, where can you use it?
Count to 10 on May 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Not much sympathy for the cop here, and I am very pro police, coming from a family that has had a few law enforcement officers in it.
People that call 911 generally do so because they are in a situation that is dangerous, scary, or stress filled. Of course people are not going to be at their most eloquent or rational at these times. The officer should have calmly found out the problem, and saved his attitude for grousing during his coffee break.
coyoterex on May 4, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Well.. I just found out she is a Dallas Cowboys fan. No wonder Ed is rooting for the officer..
*snickers..
GoodBoy on May 4, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Gee, given the “logic” of some of the morons on this thread, I guess at least at half the requests for help on 9/11 should have been ignored due to salty language.
corona on May 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM
That’s so sweet. That’s exactly the kind of person you want on the other end of the phone, someone human.
I’ve never had to call 911, but I can’t even imagine what it would be like if the person on the other end hung up or was even just rude. Talk about having a bad day. The person calling is likely having their worst.
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM
So where are your stories about the people that call 911 over there not being Chicken McNuggets at McDonald’s. Officers have to put up with people lying to them more often than not. Nobody died, let the man keep his job. 20 years…one mistake…c’mon…
nazo311 on May 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM
In my view,
(1) He gets fired, no further questions.
(2) If the delay exacerbated the problem, the sergeant faces criminal charges.
Gaunilon on May 4, 2009 at 3:26 PM
She was, and is, the nicest person. She didn’t want to accept the cash, but we insisted. She put the call into the ambulance all the while calming me down – hope you NEVER have to call 9-1-1 but if you do; hoping you get a lovely human like we did!
Branch Rickey on May 4, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Great post:
Excuse me doctor, but this f*ing gangster shot me and I am bleeding to death….
I am a doctor, I don’t need to be talked to like that, go away…
So many scenerios…”We are being hijacked by a bunch of f*ing pirates. Send in the f*ing marines….I am sorry but you are on your own, marines don’t like to be talked to that way.
This guy is an idiot, there are so many worthy to replace him.
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 3:27 PM
The correct answer is never. But if you must use it be sure it is when you can afford to be ignored.
bigskinny on May 4, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Like I said, the officer should not have have hung up on her. But she certainly was NOT trying to get her father help throughout the rest of the conversation. She cared more about getting the officer’s name and threatening a lawsuit than getting the ambulance there.
Besides, do you have any inkling of how many prank calls 911 gets a day?
Skywise on May 4, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Sorry, Ed, I think this is the first time I’ve disagreed with you! No way this guy gets a pass for doing his control-freak routine while a (non-specified) emergency is in progress. What a jack-ass (to put it very, very mildly).
zeebeach on May 4, 2009 at 3:31 PM
There are maybe three people in this entire thread who support the officer. What’s your problem?
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Ha, great sarcastic post…no one is that stupid to think like you do…imagine, don’t panic when someone you love is dying.
Great advice, everyone should post that on their mirror…along with don’t swim 1/2 hour after eating, and don’t run with scissors, and….
God, I hope you weren’t serious…if so, I apologize for talking your mom out of an abortion.
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Correction to my previous post. I should have been more sensitive and added that panic and helplessness often overrides the wisdom to survive or assist others.
shick on May 4, 2009 at 3:32 PM
It happens elsewhere, sadly in this case with far worse consequences.
mr.blacksheep on May 4, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Damn.
logis on May 4, 2009 at 3:32 PM
My wife too had a seizure problem had it sounds like the father in the story had the same surgery that my wife had 6 months ago. Lucky for us her seizure problem seems to have been completely solved, but like Ed I have had my share of 911 panics of the past years.
I can’t say that I have been totally professional/clean in my 911 calls, but I have had the fortune of not getting this officer on a bad day.
Sounds like the Chief’s action is appropriate, there could have been severe consequences if things didn’t turn out as they did and the father was OK.
Should they sue? I can’t say that I wouldn’t.
Sinner on May 4, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Sorry, but I have to nominate jeff_from_mpls‘s attempt to make this about race for the most inane thread comment. bigskinny is a rather distant second by comparison.
Y-not on May 4, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I’m glad I’ve never been on the receiving end of a 911 call.
shick on May 4, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Thanks for posting about your experience. Given the story behind this thread, it’s good to be reminded that public employees aren’t self-indulgent, arrogant hacks. There are many public employees who really are devoted to serving the public and do it well.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 3:34 PM
What possible difference could that make?
Oldnuke on May 4, 2009 at 3:34 PM
.
He may have been a brave officer, but the girl and her father are the ones having a bad day. Someone in that cop’s position does not have the option of having a bad day like that. And do you really think that someone who did act like that is doing it for the first time. Can he shoot someone for swearing and claim he’s having a bad day? The result could easily be the same here – someone dies. I could never trust that man in a position of authority again. It was not a mistake either. It was a repeated action after having time to reflect on it. There are highly decorated firemen that do arson, and policemen that abuse their authority. They shame their professions and need weeded out. This guy would have to apologize profusely, be demoted and never given such responsibilities again to satisfy me. We all have bad days, but how many of us would have done this. There is no day bad enough to get me that stupid. He simply is not qualified, he may be a brave officer, but he’s unstable and not what’s needed in that position.
bagoh20 on May 4, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Coming at this late but wow! This officer’s behavior was 100% inexcusable. And compounded by the fact that he lied when calling the FD and said he couldn’t determine what the problem was. Um, because you kept hanging up on a hysterical teenager who thought her father was dying in front of her eyes, you ass!
The chief was great, though.
califcon on May 4, 2009 at 3:35 PM
This wasnt just some operator or dispatcher, but it was a Police Officer sitting at the 911 desk taking the call.
And anyone in that situation of seeing a loved one with something that could be fatal, anyone here would be probably not talking like they are in church. How stupid could this PO be to act like this when recorded
So after hanging up on here, he lied about why he did not have the details, then he arrests here. And when interviewed, he is hostile to the reporter.
He is lucky that the father was okay, I would imagine he could have been on the recieving end of some charges if the father had died, and the city would have had a major lawsuit to fight
firepilot on May 4, 2009 at 3:36 PM
So using some words that we as a society have given meaning to (that otherwise would be completely meaningless), is somehow so bad that you deserve to be shunned even in a life threatening situation?
Do you work at LPPD?
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 3:37 PM
I know that we live in a day where one mistake like this and people are certainly calling for the violator’s job. That said, this was uber serious and whether or not you have 20 years great service and many accommodations, this warranted more than 2 weeks leave without pay. I would say in the order of a month to say the least.
He will be held accountable with the lawsuit, but still, this kind of behavior is unacceptable.
Exit Question: What if the girl and her family were black?
therightscoop on May 4, 2009 at 3:38 PM
And if her father had died? Still no big deal?
SouthernDem on May 4, 2009 at 3:39 PM
It seems to me that both sides aren’t so great in this situation. Of course the 911 operator should have been more helpful in dealing with the situation. No excuses, his behaviour was just plain wrong. Should he lose his job? No. But he should get strongly reprimanded/unpaid leave and have to undergo more training to deal with that kind of situation more professionally.
But one thing that strikes me about the situation is the attitude of the girl. When you need someone to help you don’t you want to be nice to them? Even panhandlers on the street know enough not to walk up and say “Hey, F*** you! Now could you spare some change?” Sure there’s stress and fear and all that, but really, if she were so concerned about her father wouldn’t she be begging for help, not coming on with threats of suing the operator? I would think that getting your father the help he needs is more important than getting the better side of an arguement. Could it really have been so hard to say “I’m sorry I swore, but can you please send help?” (of course she shouldn’t have to, but again is it more about her ego or her father’s emergency?)
I think this is a pretty good point:
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Everything…
If I didn’t know that her father was on the floor (and I did), I’d have agreed with the officer that it was a prank call.
Let me state this again… Yes, the officer should NOT have hung up the phone. But every call after that, at NO time did she ask for an ambulance. She wanted the officer’s name, she wanted to sue the officer. She wanted her ego fixed first.
Prank call.
Skywise on May 4, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Exit answer: Irrelevant.
Oldnuke on May 4, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I’m sure that is a tough position to be in, but considering those on the other end are the ones experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, I’d much rather be on that side than to be the one calling.
Agreed. That is what I liked most about your story Branch, and to hear that she didn’t even want the reward only further tells of her incredible character.
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Sorry, Ed. The cop’s boss needs to figure out why the cop lost it, ’cause lose it he did, repeatedly. Until that’s done, the cop’s on leave.
Five minutes of status epilepticus has produced measurable permanent neuron and brain damage. The cop couldn’t have let that influence his decision, though, because he was too busy hanging up and being offended.
“Brain Fart” is not reason.
After we figure out what happened, the cop gets successfully treated and apologizes, or he’s fired.
Disclosure of bias: Treated for epilepsy for over twenty years.
htom on May 4, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I second your nomination. But this thread isn’t dead yet, so there could yet be another winner.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 3:41 PM
A two week suspension? Are you kidding me?
I personally don’t give a damn what this idiot’s record is.
HE HUNG UP ON SOMEONE ON 911.
Hawkins1701 on May 4, 2009 at 3:41 PM
I was a receptionist for many years for a multipractice medical office. Those who swore on the phone to me or were disrepectful got the “call back when you can be civil to me” and then the click. Sometimes it happened several times in a row with the same person, in which case a supervisor or one of the docs got on the line.
That said, and having called 9-1-1 before, you are in a state where you might not have full control of the situation, and if you’re inclined to swear, you will. It’s not right and it’s not nice, but that is the way it is. The operators should know this and be able to deal with it.
TeeDee on May 4, 2009 at 3:42 PM
His job is to find out the nature of the emergency. That is all.
He should have ignored her swearing and gotten on with his job.
The guy could have died.
A 6 minute delay before even referring the call is completely unacceptable.
Dave Rywall on May 4, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Sure, it’s not good, but I’d hate to go down the road of having 911 operators responsible for the death of everyone who died after having called 911. I’m sure lot’s of qualified people would want the job then.
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 3:42 PM
I will disagree, while offensive , he may not be that far off – considering a group called Niggaz with Attitudes N.W.A. rose to fame with “F#@$ the Police”
Ironically another group – Public Enemy – shot up to #1 with a song called “911 is a Joke”, panning the response rate of 911 to urban ghettos. I await updating the song for white girls using the F bomb.
Swearing is a part of our society, whether we like it or not and IF you have never known an EMT from an urban area – they will tell you horror stories of being sent to areas specifically to get shot at, free meds or robbed, yet still show up, swearing included.
Odie1941 on May 4, 2009 at 3:42 PM
What if this girl’s father had died? What then? How would we be discussing this “heroic” officer’s actions then?
A joke.
I’m sick of hearing of these types of stories, of police incompotence and abuse of civilians.
Too bad police departments tolerate this crap.
Hawkins1701 on May 4, 2009 at 3:43 PM
I’m sure for that he’d have been punished much more severely. Perhaps a month off w/o pay and sensitivity training? /s
Oldnuke on May 4, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Didn’t she curse before the call was even answered? He only knew she cursed becasue the system starts recording before the connection is made (Isn’t that a bit of an invasion of privacy?). He was the one who made a problem out of it.
ej_pez on May 4, 2009 at 3:44 PM
No one is suggesting that. I’m pretty sure the comments are confined to the ONE guy who actually hung up on a 911 call and endangered a human being.
Oldnuke on May 4, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Sorry Ed, but if this goober isn’t fired (which I believe is the proper course of action here) then he needs to be put on permanent traffic duty.
Sans sidearm, of course.
Had I been her, and my father were similarly afflicted and died due to their actions, or lack of them, I would be sitting in court during the lawsuit with my laptop in front of me, using Autocad to design the 8 bedroom house I would soon be retiring to on the golf course of my choice, at their expense.
Everybody has bad days, but a law enforcement professional should be of sufficient intellect and training to not let personal feelings get in the way of serving the public promptly, particularly in a life-or-death emergency situation.
I would be interested to see how this particular officer fared on his psychological evaluation during the hiring process.
And since when do we arrest people in this country for using objectionable language?
That is what police states do.
-Dave
Dave R. on May 4, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Oh, and this douchebag has no problem picking on a mean, obviously threatening girl a third of his size, but he can’t man up and face reporters.
Coward. And a disgrace.
Hawkins1701 on May 4, 2009 at 3:45 PM
If the man cannot discern a hysterical caller under extreme pressure from a garden variety smart-mouth, his judgment is highly questionable, veteran or no. If he thinks that being on 911 duty is the proper time to teach etiquette, and someone’s life could be in jeopardy as a result, he needs to be in a different line of work.
Moonbats constantly excuse bad behavior by playing the Feelings Card. I thought that the adherence to personal responsibility, one of the hallmarks of conservatism, was one thing that separates us rational people from them.
Veritas on May 4, 2009 at 3:45 PM
I spent a decade as a policeman. I would have been terminated for purposely dropping a 911 call. This guy was suffering from “heavy badge” syndrome. His badge got in the way of the big picture- -someboy needed help and needed it fast, but he was too caught up in his own self-image to overlook her profanity in this emrgency.
Fire him!
ObamatheMessiah on May 4, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Eh. If you tell someone not to swear, 9.9 times out of 10, they will apologize, say it was not directed at you, and that they are excited and upset, etc.
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 3:48 PM
It’s not the same situation as with a panhandler. You have a choice in helping someone on the street or walking on buy. If you’re calling a business, that business likewise has a choice to help you or to not help you.
911 operators are being paid with your tax dollars for the sole purpose of helping you. It’s their job description. It doesn’t matter if they like you or hate you, they are there to help. Period.
Even if they refuse to help a person who called 911 for help?
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 3:48 PM
I’m sorry, by working the 911 desk
The officer was paid to answer the phone, find out the circumstances of the call, and dispatch the appropriate response…
He was not paid to be the vocabulary police
I would be more sympathetic to the officer if he tried to find out the nature of the call, which he never did
Son of Sam Kinison on May 4, 2009 at 3:49 PM
No disagreement. Let me include:
I’m glad I’ve never had to kill an enemy.
I’m glad I’ve never used a scapel on a patient.
I’m glad there are brave and competent men and women who sacrifice much to do what I fear to do.
shick on May 4, 2009 at 3:49 PM
I worked in a call center. I frequently heard various types of language and attitudes that I didn’t agree with. I almost always calmed them down, had them warm up to me, and resolved the issue in one call. Didn’t need lots of training to do this, but others did.
If you don’t have this ability (and especially if this is what you do for a LIVING), then you simply bog down your call center with callbacks. You have to deal with the problem sooner or later.
If an operator thinks they calm down the caller by forcing callbacks, they are sometimes correct, but it takes much longer to resolve than by simply dealing with it at the beginning.
The 911 operator in the video simply had an ego problem that needs to be dealt with. In dealing with emergencies I would imagine that people are typically out of their minds when seeing a loved one dying on the floor beside them.
The cop needs to get over himself and do his job. The ultimate goal is to save a life in that situation, not force the caller to follow his rules.
nottakingsides on May 4, 2009 at 3:49 PM
he’s got a badge and a gun. He probably shoots cats out of trees for little old ladies.
If he does shoot cats it’s his only endearing quality. This guy is a seargent? You are supposed to be a leader as a seargent. As an ex cop I say this guy should be flushed. And on top of it all he swears at her?????
chicken thief on May 4, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I’m fairly certain the odds go significantly down when you tell that to a hysterical person who believes a family member is in danger of dying. In fact, that’s often a guaranteed way to convince the person to curse again.
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 3:50 PM
The police officer should have said, “Where the **** should I send the ******* ambulance, and why?” That way, he would know where the ambulance was needed (so that the dispatcher could alert the closest ambulance), and what kind of care would the patient need, so the appropriate paramedics and equipment would be aboard.
One would think that a 20-year cop would have heard a few F-bombs during his career, even from his colleagues. Nothing to F-R-E-T about!
Steve Z on May 4, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Oy.
It’s not their JOB to “ignore” you vis a vis your excitability index.
Their JOB is to be the “professional” in the face of a decidedly “unprofessional” circumstance and despite your, perhaps, “unprofessional” response to it.
Their JOB is to render all due and full assistance as rapidly as possible and, if required, calm you down while you wait for that assistance.
It would be lovely if all dire emergencies could occur within the confines of a set script. The only individual WITH a script is the person who says “This is 9-11. What is your emergency?” Remember that when you choose to be critical of someone else’s response to extraordinary circumstances.
And the guy’s a sack o’ sh$t, because if he’d TRULY been offended, he wouldn’t have LIED to mitigate the responsibility for his actions. Enough of that stupidity.
Bravo. I’m sure it was a lovely surprise for the operator.
tree hugging sister on May 4, 2009 at 3:51 PM
See, I’ll rise above your hostility and give you an answer that is respectful.
I don’t mean to suggest that he should learn ebonics because it’s a black language. I mean the suggestion here is that he must strive to keep up with popular culture, which is increasingly coarse and unintelligible.
And if I remember, I believe I acknowledged that this was a terrible situation for the officer to be in, and that he obviously was not properly trained.
Was my mistake that I tried to see both sides? If so, I apologize.
jeff_from_mpls on May 4, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Oh, I agree with you that she behaved very badly. Even factoring in her stress and frustration, it was very odd that she focused so quickly on threatening the officer with a lawsuit. I found her to be really really really irritating — Meghan McCain level irritating — but I can’t stand teenagers so maybe others don’t find her that bad.
Still, it’s his job to get the information out of the caller, which he failed to do, and there’s no doubt in my mind that it was his initial chiding of her for her language that resulted in the situation. If he had just taken her information on that first call, the problem would not have developed.
I’m not sure I see a lawsuit here, at least not on the phone call part… although perhaps on the false arrest.
Y-not on May 4, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Did an ambulance arrive? If so, who sent it?
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Opps, got fired because I couldn’t spell. Sergeant.
chicken thief on May 4, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Et tu?
See my calm reply at 3:51 PM.
I think it’s best when we try to understand one another.
jeff_from_mpls on May 4, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Taken out of the context of my whole post in which I did say that the operator’s behaviour was inexcusable.
I just find it strange that people here aren’t willing to look into the behaviour of the girl at all. If her motive is to get the help for her dad, then it seems she could have toned it down after the (inappropriate on the operator part) reprimant and gotten to the point of the call. Instead she would rather threaten lawsuits and more swearing – none of which help get her father any help.
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Non story, if the girl is 250 lbs this never makes it to the air. Maybe a mention in the local paper.
Rocks on May 4, 2009 at 3:55 PM
He should be fired. His apathy towards the public puts good cops in danger, not to mention the citizens that may need an ambulance.
manfriend on May 4, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Was the caller speaking Ebonics? It sounded like standard, if colloquial, English to me.
Y-not on May 4, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Okay. I’m a retired police chief. I have to agree that this guy would probably be unemployed if he worked for me … depending on union involvement!
HiredGun on May 4, 2009 at 3:56 PM
How do you know if she felt the guy was in danger of dying and if her belief was reasonable? Do you read minds? Did the father have a history of seizures? Had she seen her father have a seizure before? Did the father tell her what to do if he had a seizure?
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Please! She’s a kid and you know darn well, those cops have heard those naughty words before and most likely have said them in far less stressful situations.
bloggless on May 4, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Has the girl apologized for her language yet? I sympathise with the cop having to take the abuse. Still – it’s his job to take abuse. Reassign him elsewhere for while.
BrideOfRove on May 4, 2009 at 3:57 PM
geez my typing is terrible…
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 3:57 PM
And, yeah, the officer should have been fired.
califcon on May 4, 2009 at 3:57 PM
When you call 911, the call appears on a computer screen in front of the operator with the address and telephone number.
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 3:59 PM
I thought it was clear what you initially meant, hence my post – but applaud your willingness to take the high ground when being accused of being a “racist” by 2 or 3 people here, in that knee jerk way.
Kudos.
Odie1941 on May 4, 2009 at 3:59 PM
You haven’t been around HA very long, have you?
It’s a real eye-opener here in republican-land, isn’t it?
jeff_from_mpls on May 4, 2009 at 3:59 PM
First of all the officer LIED when he said (when in finally dispatched the ambulance) he couldn’t get through to determine what was wrong.
He was the one who kept hanging up the phone. And he is also the one who was using profanity (calling her the C word…) And, as noted, at no time did he ask of there was a real emergency after repeated phone calls from the woman – he never asked.
The woman’s father could have died if it had been more serious.
Suspension and training is at least called for. Of course if the officer also, on his own initiative, apologize, it would go a long way.
CrazyFool on May 4, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Out of context? I didn’t mention the officer in my response, so why would it matter that you did? You were talking as though she acted in a way that was the cause of her not receiving help. I only pointed out that 911 operators have to help you, no matter how you behave.
I’ve never argued that she did the right thing. I’m only arguing that her behavior is irrelevant, as it should be. I don’t care what she did, he still had a job to do and his refusing to do it was the problem, not anything she did.
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Horse Pockey! Her behavior was absolutely normal for the situation. The ONLY thing the cop should have heard and responded to was “I need an ambulance.” And his response should have been “Yes ma’am, what is your address and what is the nature of your emergency?”
Oldnuke on May 4, 2009 at 4:00 PM
LOL-Yep, those unions could screw up a one man parade.
-Dave
Dave R. on May 4, 2009 at 4:00 PM
I do have to say that this girl is an idiot. He simply asked her to not curse on 911, and then she screams “send me a fu**ing ambulance!”
She makes herself look like an a-hole and a spoiled brat on top of that. I would have never talked to an adult like this when I was 17.
TheBlueSite on May 4, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Gee thanks. Did you see my response or does it not fit into your liberal narrative? Why do you post here if you hate it so much?
BrideOfRove on May 4, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Sadly, I find dems far more biased in their unwillingness to look into both sides of an arguement…
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 4:01 PM
I’d sue. I’ve never called 911. But if I did, and they hung up on me. . . I’d sue for every penny I ever paid in taxes in my life. And then I’d sue for emotional distress of not being able to trust anyone in a position of authority any longer.
ThackerAgency on May 4, 2009 at 4:01 PM
not only that, but the cop REPEATEDLY hung up on her. This guy has no soul and should at a minimum not be on 911 patrol ever again in his life.
ThackerAgency on May 4, 2009 at 4:02 PM
If she had called in ranting like Christian Bale, sure hang up on her, but she was just trying to get a response. The cop shouldn’t be fired but he shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a 9-1-1 dispatch ever again. Plus he should personally apologize to the girl and her father.
saltydogg14 on May 4, 2009 at 4:03 PM
QFT
liquidflorian on May 4, 2009 at 4:04 PM
she didn’t break a law. She wasn’t calling to be lectured on proper etiquite. . . she was calling for a f***ing ambulance. His job is to send a f***ing ambulance when someone calls and asks for a f***ing ambulance.
ThackerAgency on May 4, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Answer to all: Who cares? A 911 operator should err on the side of caution.
Your questions make absolutely no sense.
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 4:04 PM
I haven’t sworn in over 30 years. And the vulgarity of contemporary culture upsets me because I believe such language demonstrates a lack of respect for the sanctity of human life.
This sergeant focused on the incivility of a person who was in a state of panic and acting hysterically. In so doing, he ignored a living human being who’s life was in danger.
This sergeant not only acted like the PC police. He was the PC police, and his response only increased the caller’s hysteria, increasing the risk to human life.
Loxodonta on May 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Yep, I agree, this bozo needs to get cut. One needs to ignore vulgarity in a situation like this. Its part of the job, especially for law enforcement.
dogsoldier on May 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
If that is what happened, screw her. No one needs someone screaming in your ear. Did the father go by ambulance to the ER? If so, who sent it?
Blake on May 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I agree about how the operator should have responded, but I have to disagree about her behaviour being “absolutely normal” – even for the situation.
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
In the end didn’t a F***ing ambulance show up at her house?
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Oh yes he did! I too have worked at all leveles of crisis intervention and management, and what is required from a public officer when a public inquiry is made, is a forthright face to face response to the reporter — not a run-away, which is more like the behavior of a criminal. This was not a heat of the moment arrest situ — A professional response here requires him to stand his ground, and let the reporter ask his question – the officer could then choose to respond directly to the question or defer to higher authority.
This guy presents like many others, who overtime become jaded or drunk with their power over others. That he hadn’t been repremanded up till this event may be more the result of a forgiving public, or perhaps a public who understands that challenging the improper behavior of a belligerant Police officer, is not an easy battle to fight, let alone win.
I do agree however that his error in judgement and actions, may not rise to a justification to terminate his employment. However, had the seizure victim died because of the officer’s failure to provide immediate emergency response he’d have a lot more ‘splainin to do.
Last, he and others at the PD, orchestrated a False Arrest of a citizen that had no basis under law. For that, the City will be sued, and more than likely settle out of court, this will cost taxpayers money — part of that payout to the crime victim should come out of the officers pocket – but it won’t. So, the only real punishment the perp will have gotten is a pushy reporter making him unconfortable for a moment – thank the muses for small favors!
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on May 4, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Don’t you mean “screw the father” because that’s who needed medical help, not the woman. So cursing is worth sentencing a woman’s father to death according to a few of you.
So awesome.
Yes, it eventually did, but it was delayed because of the officer’s actions. So much can happen in a few minutes.
Esthier on May 4, 2009 at 4:11 PM
In the end didn’t a F***ing ambulance show up at her house?
Scrappy on May 4, 2009 at 4:07 PM
______________________________________________
Just a hint
WATCH THE VIDEO BEFORE YOU POST if you had, you would of seen it reported that she gave up on the phone & went to the station in person…the ambulance only arrived after someone else called
Son of Sam Kinison on May 4, 2009 at 4:13 PM
she should have called an ambulance company. There are tons of ambulances. But if 911 can’t send an ambulance when you ask for one, we don’t need to pay for 911. In the end we’ll all be dead anyway and it doesn’t really matter.
She had to call 4 times. She should have said ‘I need a **** **** **** **** ambulance’ and the dude should have said ‘What address’. That should have been the conversation. The whole conversation. That’s his job. That’s why she was calling. He didn’t do his job and her dad could have died because of it.
Maybe she should have just said ‘send a F***ing hearse’ that would have been as appropriate for the response this guy gave. I can’t believe anyone defends him. For real.
ThackerAgency on May 4, 2009 at 4:13 PM
You know. In a rational world, the father would be having a talk with his daughter about her language problems and he’d be marching her down to the station to talk in a civilized manner with the officer and his boss. If her father had done this at least once or twice when she was younger when it wasn’t critical, then perhaps she wouldn’t have turned into a screaming banshee when it mattered. Now? He’s turned a teaching moment into a typical “I am blameless, who can I sue” lesson. If I knew I was not much loger for this world, I think I’d want to leave a better legacy for my kid. I would want her to learn how to function in life a little better than this.
Your kids reflect you.
Still the cop has no business answering 911 calls.
BrideOfRove on May 4, 2009 at 4:14 PM
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