Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Neue Regel

(221 posts)
Thu May 17, 2012, 11:03 PM May 2012

When a 911 dispatcher tells you to do something, you should listen to them

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20311925/denver-911-operator-mishandled-road-rage-call-after

A Denver 911 operator was mistaken when he told a motorist to return to the area where he and his companions had been threatened in a road-rage incident — moments before a fatal shooting, the head of the city's emergency phone system acknowledged Monday.

Jimma Reat, a 24-year-old Sudanese refugee, died in the incident.

The incident began after Reat, two of his brothers and a friend got into an altercation with a group of men in a red Jeep about 4 a.m. Sunday at Sheridan Boulevard and West 10th Avenue.

Reat's brother, Gatwec Dengpathot, said the group had returned to the parking lot at Reat's apartment in Wheat Ridge after the altercation, during which someone threatened them with a gun. "That is what really got me mad," Dengpathot said. "If they actually knew that there was a threat starting from 10th, why would they send the boys back to the other side of Denver. This is something that could have been avoided. "My brother was a good, loving guy and he had no problem with anybody and he shouldn't have died that way."

The operator told them to return to Denver, find a safe spot to park and wait for police. One of Reat's brothers, who was driving the Dodge Charger, was on a cellphone talking to the operator. "He told the dispatcher that it isn't safe there," Dengpathot said. "We don't want to go there, that is where the problem happened, they were threatening us with a gun." But after a few moments, "they finally submitted to the (operator's) authority" and returned to West 29th Avenue, just east of Sheridan Boulevard, within Denver's border, Dengpathot said.


They got out of the car and waited and then saw the red Jeep coming toward them. "Jimma yelled out, 'Here comes those guys and they've got a gun,' " Dengpathot said. "Then four of them got out and one of them started firing."




The dispatcher in question was fired this week:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20641032/fired-denver-911-operator-feels-horrible-that-man

A Denver 911 operator fired for sending Jimma Reat to the spot where he was murdered said he feels horrible about his death but was so focused on Reat's location he failed to get help to him, according to a transcript of a meeting between him and his boss.

According to an account of a pre-disciplinary hearing with Simpson that was included in the letter, the operator said "I feel horrible for what happened. But yeah, I can't blame it on anyone else."



At least he feels bad


12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
When a 911 dispatcher tells you to do something, you should listen to them (Original Post) Neue Regel May 2012 OP
I wonder if it's lack of training or innate stupidity. I tend to think the latter. n/t RKP5637 May 2012 #1
Seems like a lot of 911 operators come across as idiots MicaelS May 2012 #2
There are MANY 911 dispatchers who have saved lives, and are VERY good at their jobs. ScreamingMeemie May 2012 #6
Get your raging ass back to the scene Life Long Dem May 2012 #3
So do we pay attention to the advice of the dispatchers or not? Zimmerman virgogal May 2012 #4
We all have to rely on our own best judgement slackmaster May 2012 #10
Generalize from the particular much? dpibel May 2012 #5
Actually, no, I don't Neue Regel May 2012 #7
Straw man any? dpibel May 2012 #12
what!!!?? Liberal_in_LA May 2012 #8
Maybe you should use your common sense. jp11 May 2012 #9
There are on the order of 100,000 public safety dispatchers FarCenter May 2012 #11

MicaelS

(8,747 posts)
2. Seems like a lot of 911 operators come across as idiots
Thu May 17, 2012, 11:16 PM
May 2012

When Josh Powell killed his two sons and himself comes to mind. The social worker drops the kids off, and the father takes them inside and locks her out. She calls 911 to get help and the operator starts giving HER twenty questions, instead of ordering immediate help. The 911 operator David Lovrak, was later reprimanded.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)
6. There are MANY 911 dispatchers who have saved lives, and are VERY good at their jobs.
Fri May 18, 2012, 12:54 AM
May 2012

I would not say a lot of 911 operators, we're seeing them here and there on the news. Thousands of calls are handled across the country every minute.

 

Life Long Dem

(8,582 posts)
3. Get your raging ass back to the scene
Thu May 17, 2012, 11:23 PM
May 2012

Who else are the cops going to arrest if there's no one at the scene?

 

virgogal

(10,178 posts)
4. So do we pay attention to the advice of the dispatchers or not? Zimmerman
Thu May 17, 2012, 11:30 PM
May 2012

didn't,these guys did.

Both had unhappy endings.

dpibel

(2,803 posts)
5. Generalize from the particular much?
Thu May 17, 2012, 11:55 PM
May 2012

So, let's see.

Air traffic controllers have made errors.

So pilots should ignore air traffic controllers.

Actual policemen have made mistakes (we all know that a 911 dispatcher is not an official cop).

So we should ignore cops if we like.

Generals have erred.

So soldiers should ignore generals.

You get the idea.

Well...actually you probably don't.

 

Neue Regel

(221 posts)
7. Actually, no, I don't
Fri May 18, 2012, 07:49 PM
May 2012

But there have been more than a few posts appealing to the authority (and near infallibility) of a 911 operator telling George Zimmerman, "You don't need to do that." I'm simply pointing out that a call center employee suggesting a course of action does not necessarily make it a good idea.

None of your comparisons are valid - it is against the law to not follow orders given by air traffic controllers, police officers, and generals.

dpibel

(2,803 posts)
12. Straw man any?
Fri May 18, 2012, 10:20 PM
May 2012

Please give me links to a person invoking the infallibilty of a 911 "operator." (Your word. You might be interested to know what they're really called.)

Try this: All self-defense claims are adjudged on a reasonable man standard. That includes the totality of the circumstances.

Truth is, the "it ain't illegal to disobey a 911 dispatcher" argument is a total red herring.

jp11

(2,104 posts)
9. Maybe you should use your common sense.
Fri May 18, 2012, 09:21 PM
May 2012

Go back to where people were threatening you? Yeah you know what I'm not doing that.

Don't follow that person. Yeah you know what I'm going to follow him. Cause I got a gun and SYG will let me kill him if he makes a move cause I'm a man with a gun roaming the night, not just watching the neighborhood, but getting involved like Charles Bronson from Death Wish.

Those situations are exactly the same, thanks a bunch.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»When a 911 dispatcher tel...