911 mishap. Dispatcher thinks it's a prank. Leads to boy's mother's death.

[Diomedes]

It takes especially stupid people to design an emergency response system that grants "aid/do not aid" discretion to the first responder.

[JTrotter Fan]

This is once or twice in my lifetime that i will agree with Diomedes.

[phillymic2000]

It's the discretion of the calltaker whether or not they think it's real or a prank.  Obviously, that woman made a mistake that cost a life.  However, her losing her job is enough.  If the family wants to sue the city, so be it. 

We have about 2 fake/false calls to 911 in my school district every month and the cops show up every time.

[phillymic2000]

So are you telling me that you have never farged up at your job?  You never made a mistake?  You never did anything wrong?  Yeah, that's what the farg i thought moron.  I've been there...i've done that and it ain't easy.

Didn't say I never made a mistake, but my job performance does not have someones life on the line. Never said the job wasn't easy. They should have people working there that among other things can #1 handle pressure #2 do not get frustrated easy, by the looks of your response did you train this lady?

[DutchBird]

"When lives are at stake you err  on the side of caution."

This lady obviously forgot this... she needs to be fired and punished. Preferrably by making her understand what she did for the rst of her life. Second, those responsible for creating a situation where something like this can happen (and that means in the bureaucracy, emergency services and politicians) need to be fired as well.

They should also be forced to pay for the upbringing of the boy (and possible other kids) left behind (regardless of whether the mother would have survived or not), including full coverage of healthcare and education (regardless of schools attended). This is IMHO culpable negligence at all levels of the worst kind.

[Diomedes]

You couldn't be more right, but that's not how it works around here.

[phillymic2000]

You couldn't be more right, but that's not how it works around here.

What are you talking about, haven't you heard? Work harder millions (legal & illegal) are depending on you.

[Diomedes]

You're annoying me lately.  It's best we don't talk.

[phillymic2000]

You're annoying me lately.  It's best we don't talk.

come on you know it's true!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Girl, you know it's true!

[MadMarchHare]

Guess the prosecutors think these jackasses deserve a little more than 3-5 days suspension....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/07/911.death.ap/index.html

[Sgt PSN]

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger, who defended assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city on behalf of the family.

I find humor in this. 

[Eagles 3x]

Yet another dispatcher that refused to send help. Fire him. Fine him. Jail him.


Dispatcher: Sheriff's department, how can I help you?
Caller: Yeah, I'm over here at Burger King, right here in San Clemente-

Dispatcher: Mm-hmm.

Caller: -um, no, not San Clemente, I'm sorry. Um, I live in San Clemente. I'm in Laguna Niguel, I think that's where I'm at.

Dispatcher: Uh-huh.

Caller: I'm at a drive-thru right now.

Dispatcher: Uh-huh.

Caller: I ordered my food three times. They're mopping the floor inside, and I understand they're busy. They're not even busy, OK, I've been the only car here. I asked them four different times to make me a Western Barbecue Burger. OK, they keep giving me a hamburger with lettuce, tomato and cheese, onions. And I said, I am not leaving.

Dispatcher: Uh-huh.

Caller: I want a Western Burger. Because I just got my kids from tae kwon do; they're hungry. I'm on my way home, and I live in San Clemente.

Dispatcher: Uh-huh.

Caller: OK, she gave me another hamburger. It's wrong. I said four times, I said, "I want it." She goes, "Can you go out and park in front?" I said, "No. I want my hamburger right." So then the lady came to the manager, or whoever she is--she came up and she said, um, "Did you want your money back?" And I said, "No. I want my hamburger. My kids are hungry, and I have to jump on the toll freeway [sic]." I said, "I am not leaving this spot," and I said I will call the police, because I want my Western Burger done right. Now is that so hard?

Dispatcher: OK, what exactly is it you want us to do for you?

Caller: Send an officer down here. I want them to make me the right-

Dispatcher: Ma'am, we're not going to go down there and enforce your Western Bacon Cheeseburger.

Caller: What am I supposed to do?

Dispatcher: This is between you and the manager. We're not going to go enforce how to make a hamburger. That's not a criminal issue. There's nothing criminal there.

Caller: So I just stand here--so I just sit here and block-

Dispatcher: You need to calmly and rationally speak to the manager and figure out what to do between you.

Caller: She did come up, and I said, "Can I please have my Western Burger?" She said, "I'm not dealing with it," and she walked away. Because they're mopping the floor and it's all full of suds, and they don't want to go through there, and-

Dispatcher: Ma'am, then I suggest you get your money back and go somewhere else. This is not a criminal issue. We can't go out there and make them make you a cheeseburger the way you want it.

Caller: Well, that is, that--you're supposed to be here to protect me.

Dispatcher: Well, what are we protecting you from, a wrong cheeseburger?

Caller: No. It's-

Dispatcher: Is this like, is this a harmful cheeseburger or something? I don't understand what you want us to do.

Caller: Well, just come down here! I'm not leaving!

Dispatcher: No, ma'am, I'm not sending the deputies down there over a cheeseburger! You need to go in there and act like an adult and either get your money back or go home.

Caller: I do not need to go. She is not acting like an adult herself. I'm sitting here in my car. I just want them to make my kid a Western Burger [unintelligible].

Dispatcher: Now this is what I suggest: I suggest you get your money back from the manager and you go on your way home.

Caller: OK.

Dispatcher: OK? Bye-bye.

Caller: No-

[click]

[rjs246]

Now I'm hungry.

[SunMo]

the audio of that is even better...the woman is a whiney funhole....in other words, she's a woman