Woman dies after son calls 911; dispatchers think it's a prank

[cynatnite]

(Detroit, April 6, 2006, 11:00 P.M.) An investigation is underway in Detroit after a six-year-old boy called 911 to get help for his mom, and the operator acted as if it were a joke.

Detroit NBC Affiliate WDIV reports that six-year-old Robert Turner called 911 on February 20. He thought his mother 46-year-old Sherrill Turner had passed out. She was later found dead.

911 tapes detail the call, where the boy tells a female operator that his mom had passed out. The operator demands to speak to an adult before sending police.

The boy eventually hung up and called back a short time later. This time the same operator warns the boy that he could get in trouble for making a prank call to 911. Taylor says police didn't arrive until three hours later and found his mother dead.

http://www.woodtv.com/global/story.asp?s=4739612

:grr: So pissed I can't even see straight. The dispatcher should be arrested.

[boobooday]

1. WTF?

I heard a story recently about a lady's dog calling 911 and barking, and the EMTs showed up immediately.

But they won't listen to a little boy trying to get help for his mom? I thought they took ALL calls seriously, which is why it is such a big deal to prank call them.

:wtf:

[valerief]

2. That must have happened pre 9-11 when the world was a different place, n/t

[boobooday]

10. Yes, probably now all calls must be routed through the NSA

So it takes a bit longer. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[NNadir]

3. That's awful.

I once dialed 911 by mistake and hung up before anyone answered and the cops showed up at my house.

I live in a safe area.

[bigscott]

6. that happened to me too

I forgot to re-program my laptop - it had 9-in the dial up number - and the police showed up at my house because my laptop dialed 911 before I realized the problem

[Ioo]

4. Does he has a history of this? I was told to teach a kidd to call 911

This freaks me out.

[Blue Diadem]

5. OMG that poor child!

He tried so hard to save his Mom. :cry:

This happened Feb. 20th..can't help but wonder if the investigation is only going on because they're getting sued.

[qanda]

7. She most certainly should be arrested

To assume that boy was playing is just ridiculous. That poor little boy-- all he wants is his mom back.

[seabeyond]

8. not arrested, but fired n/t

[Dead_Parrot]

9. Out of a canon, for preference.

Poor kid.

[seabeyond]

12. that was cute. i hear ya n/t

[Catchawave]

11. Why not just send a squad car by to check it out....?

If it was a prank, then the boy and his parents would have had a gentle lecture from Officer Friendly. Prank calls to 911 are illegal, the parents would get a warning, maybe a fine, what was that dispatcher thinking :mad:

[qanda]

14. Nor should it have been her call to make

She was negligent and I'm almost positive that the rules are that a squad car is to be sent regardless of the dispatcher's feelings on whether or not it's legitimate. My children once called 911 and I even called back to tell them that it was my children playing on the phone. Guess what? They sent a cop anyway and my children got a nice lecture from an officer and they never did it again.

[B3Nut]

13. Should be Arrested and Sued!

The City of Detroit needs to pay dearly for this. And that dispatcher needs to be charged with negligent homicide.

You send cops FIRST! Let THEM do the questioning! DAMMIT how can people that stupid get hired for that kind of job?

Todd in Beerbratistan

[WinkyDink]

15. I have yet to hear a dispatcher's questioning that didn't enrage me.

People are DYING, and the dispatchers are all, "Is there a gun?" "Is he still breathing? Have you checked?" "Where is he?" "Is anyone else there? Are you sure?" "Calm down. You have to stay calm, or I won't be able to help you. Now, what did you say is the problem?"

CALL THE DAMN COPS!!!

[Neil Lisst]

16. this calls for the Democratic party's most solid support group

Get this man a LAWYER!!