911 Dispatcher Comedy Hour

[CoasterMatt]

Meanwhile, REAL emergencies are going on...

A 911 dispatcher has apologized after responding to a mother's plea for help with an unruly child by saying: "OK. Do you want us to come over to shoot her?"

The woman, identified only as Lori in Wednesday's editions of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, said she recently phoned authorities after coming home to find her daughters fighting. She told the call-taker her 12-year-old, who had kicked a hole in the door, was out of control.

After dispatcher Mike Forbess' comment, the line went dead for 5 seconds.

"Are you there?" Forbess asked.

"Excuse me?" Lori said.

Forbess, a dispatcher for five years at the Watauga Department of Public Safety, told her he was joking and apologized.

The woman was not amused.

Maybe she thought she was calling NANNY 911?

[Ghoulish Delight]

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/3618760/detail.html

The 911 operator had fallen asleep. The snoring went on for 1 minute and 48 seconds before Berg regained his attention.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4222338/detail.html

Police in suburban Sauk Village released a 911 tape this week in which a dispatcher declined to assist in a call from a man asking for help.

and my favorite... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7276637/

Russell Shepard, a friend of Sawyer's, called 911, which was routed to the state police barracks in Montville, Conn. When he reported the accident, Peasley said, "Yeah ... too bad," and hung up.

[€uroMeinke]

People just need to lighten up a bit when calling 911

[Prudence]

I once lived below a couple that regularly engaged in loud domestic violence episodes in the wee hours of the morning. So I'd call 911. And before they would even listen to my complaint, I had to provide my full name, address, and telephone number. So, if I was being eaten alive by wild dingos you're not coming unless I provide a full biography? Anyhow, I didn't want my info on file with this complaint, since the guy had guns and clearly didn't mind beating the crap out of women. Each time I called I objected and was told that if I didn't give up all my personal info first, no one would be dispatched to interrupt the crime in progress. So, I have to weigh my personal safety against my moral obligation to report a violent crime that could cause severe injury or death to another human being? Gee, I wonder why there are so many news stories about crimes going unreported.

And then I was the complex pariah for calling on such a nice boy, because of course the police said something clever like "your downstairs neighbor says you're beating your girlfriend" and then everyone knew it was me. Never mind that after the second time he was arrested and spent several weeks in jail, and she got a restraining order prohibiting him from returning, and he couldn't get his stuff out until they could arrange for a police escort.

I sincerely I hope I never have to call 911 for my own health or safety. Aside from never wanting to need them, I don't trust them to respond appropriately.

(Yes, I am in full-on tinfoil hat mode. Why do you ask?)

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I sincerely I hope I never have to call 911 for my own health or safety. Aside from never wanting to need them, I don't trust them to respond appropriately.

Then again their playful joking banter might cheer you up in your last moments of being bludgeoned to death...

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

Then again their playful joking banter might cheer you up in your last moments of being bludgeoned to death...

LOL. Best line I've seen in a while. Poetic.

(just had to say that)

On topic though, I have to admit that I did get a chuckle out of what the guy said, if for no other reason that it really peeves me when people use 911 for non-emergencies. I'll admit, I don't know the whole story. Maybe the kid was threatening the mom with a shotgun. In that case, I'm totally cool with 911 being called. But, if the kid was just throwing a temper tantrum, I'm in the "What the hell would you like the police to do" camp, just like the dispatcher apparently was. All I know is that if I'm having a hard attack, I would appreciate it if emergency personel weren't acting as guidance counselors.

Eh, It was something that he probably shouldn't have said out loud.

[Baileykat]

WHEN I WAS a 9-1-1 dispatcher, you would not believe the useless calls we would get from people. People calling to say their utilities were cut off...(cause they didn't pay the bill!), people calling to say they wanted to sue so and so...people calling for a ride to the store! (yes it happened!)

I even had some guy call one night for a ride to the hospital. When I asked him what the emergency was, he told me there was no emergency. He wanted a ride to the hospital to visit his brother.

I, did though, have a stupid moment! I was a freshly minted dispatcher..working my first shift solo. A elderly gentleman called 9-1-1 to say that his brother had shot himself in the head! I quickly scanned my brain for the right questions to ask...The first thing that popped out was..."Is he bleeding?"

This was followed by a moment of silence...then the man said "Of course he's bleeding, he shot himself in the head!"

[BarTopDancer]

I am involved with a group of people who have no choice but to call the police for their out of control children. They want the police and paramedics to come and take them to a psych hospital because they tend to be a danger to themselves and people around them. This is usually not a first time response, and only done when other methods have been tried and failed.
Lets not be so quick to judge the caller.

The operators response was inexcusable. However it goes to show the apathy that is involved with out of control minors who can turn into out of control adults. If an adult called the police because there was a violent altercation between two adults it's unlikely the response would have been the same.

[Goofygirl]

This morning on Fox News they gave the dispatcher and his wife a trip to WDW!

Earlier this week I heard this 911. I think we can all agree this WAS and emergency!

http://www.snopes.com/crime/cops/burger.asp