On occasion I run across a story which illustrates in horrifying detail why relying on the government to protect you can be deadly. Today was one of those occasions.
Sherrill Turner, 46, of Detroit, Mich., collapsed in her kitchen Feb. 20. Her son Robert, who was 5 at the time, called 911. What happened next is truly sickening.
“You shouldn’t be playing on the phone,” the female 911 operator said. “Now put her on the phone before I send the police out there to knock on the door and you gonna be in trouble.”
That’s right, the 911 operator thought the call was a prank.
Robert hung up in frustration, worried for a while, and called back again. Again, the operator accused Robert of playing games on the phone, while his mother lay dead in the kitchen.
Turner’s daughter Delaina Patterson told the Associated Press that help didn’t arrive until three hours later. The family has filed a lawsuit.
Detroit police spokesman James Tate said it was at least an hour before authorities arrived, but he said he did not have details. By that time, the boy’s mother had died, he said.
“The operator may have believed he was playing on the phone,” Tate said.
The 911 operator remains on the job amid the investigation, Tate said. — Associated Press
In December, I reported on a Denver 911 dispatcher who refused to believe a woman was being kidnapped. The woman’s ex-boyfriend, who kidnapped her, killed her later that day.
The government has no duty to respond to 911 calls and is not required to do so. Many states have laws to that effect, and courts have also upheld this principle, even in areas without specific laws. You really are on your own.
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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ig
Apr 07, 2006
911? What 911?
I’m still trying to get my VoIP service to work with 911 at all.
Michael Hampton
Apr 07, 2006
IG, your VoIP provider/wholesaler should have 911 access, at least in some areas. Contact me on Uncensored and let me know what’s going on and I’ll see if I can give you some pointers.
forstand
Apr 08, 2006
I live in south Texas. I don’t rely on 911. I will use it but I rely on my .45 (and it is v-e-r-y accurate) with a laser sight. The laser alone at night likely will cause a thief to pee his pants; I will inform 911 to check for wet crotches of any suspects if they get out of my home alive. I wonder if I could be sued if they slip in their own pee and injure themselves? Naw, this is Texas.
I also have an alarm for my house and use it. I also am guilty of setting it off by forgetting to reset it soon enough as I enter the house. At least the neighbors know that it works. And the alarm company.
There are about 200,000 citizens with a concealed carry permit in Texas. It is not that difficult to obtain if you have a clean criminal record. There are some states with a reciprocal agreement with Texas which is convenient when I travel. Car jackers are scum.
When the sun goes down homeowners have the right to shoot to kill any intruder. In the daylight I have to warn you first. Small difference if you attack me to try to exit past me. I cannot count on the Corpus Christi police to protect me. I guarantee that if I must shoot that I won’t shoot to wound–thieves will not testify against me in court. I am an avid hunter and know how difficult it is to kill with the first shot. I have shot the heart out of a buck with a 30.06 and had it run over 100 yards.
A few months ago I called 911 because I was walking my two dogs past an elementary school and thought I saw two individuals breaking into the school. They walked away from the school and I followed them to their house while keeping well back. The 911 dispatcher wanted me to run away. I told her that I would continue to follow them and did not fear too much as I was armed (and had a permit for carring it). It took over 15 minutes for the police to arrive. I believe that had the two young men not observed me watching them from across the street that they would have actually broken into the school; I suspect that they were looking for an easy way in like an unlocked window.
I keep a well-stocked first aid kit and stay current with my first aid training. The major hospitals here have half their name from Latin for Jesus–I won’t go to them unless I have no other choice. My wife is still trying to resolve a $300+ charge for services that were never rendered from the hospital. Didn’t Jesus recite the commandments and one was to not steal?
Don’t look for me or my house on the internet as I use a pseudonym for my posts.
Apr 09, 2006
Adrift at Sea » News Roundup
Jason
Nov 17, 2006
Good luck using that .45 to save you if you have a heart attack. Don’t worry no one will travel to the asshole of the country to look for you.
...
Mar 25, 2007
911? I called 911 when a crazy psycho came into my home and threatened to hurt my family. The officer said, “I’m sorry, we don’t dispatch there. You can call the sheriff since you’re in his jurisdiction.” 911….It’s a waste of time.
Kenn
Jun 13, 2007
People actually want to immigrate to this country. Are they insane? Its like taking a step back 20 years compared to the rest of the developed world and only getting worse. We are becoming a nation of utter idiots.
shellie
Jun 21, 2007
As a 911 operator, I wish everyone was forced to listen to our calls for just one hour. Most people would go crazy hearing half the stuff that we deal with. Try to be grateful for the police, fire, and ems services that are provided to each and every person in this nation. (including the jerks who swear they don’t ever need us)
ashley
Jul 24, 2007
WOW… After reading what everyone has posted thats really all i can say. I value everyones opinion, for thats all it is, it is our opinion. Me..personaly…well i am not one to call 911. I was in a home invasion where i was ductaped. as the intruders left i managed to dial 911…frantic and scared shitless, the operator herslef ws a true blessing…she calmed me down and actually listened… since they only taped my wrist together i was able to chase the car and get the tag number, which i gave to her. I just wish that the detectives assigned to the case weren’t such ass holes. They treated me as if it was my fault that this shit happened to me. that was 5 years ago. and the only thing it taught me was to stay on your toes, never underestimate anyone, and keep faith in your heart. My condolence goes out to robert and all the other people in the world who have tried to go about a situation by the BOOK…and have not recieved what we desereve as tax paying citzens from the government. And for the man who felt that he could handle every situation with a .45….believe me… I wish it was that easy…caught of guard, not expecting what life might throw at you next, can and most the time will knock you right off of your feet. God bless you all. And just like my father told me growing up, “the only person you can ever count on in life is YOU!”
kimbergirl
Jul 30, 2007
i carry a gun because i cant carry a police man with me.
i do not do it so that i feel safe- i do it so that i am prepared.
If you come into my house without my permission (even in the day here in MI) or every threaten to kill or rape me. If you ever are about to harm any other human and i am around.. watch for the little red dot to appear right between your eyes and look down the barrel of my gun and rethink what you are about to do.
I protect myself because I can. Maybe you should consider protecting yourself and others too. Get you concealed carry license and let those criminals know who they are dealing with!
joe
Jul 30, 2007
ashley- of course having a gun wont make you indestructible. And the large majority of ccw holders never have to use it.
But talk to those who have been in a situation where they had to use it and did. Then talk to those who have been in a similar situation who did not have a gun- oh wait.. you cant
kimmberrgiirrl
Jul 30, 2007
i carry a gun because i cant carry a police man with me.
i do not do it so that i feel safe- i do it so that i am prepared.
If you come into my house without my permission (even in the day here in MI) or every threaten to kill or rape me. If you ever are about to harm any other human and i am around.. watch for the little red dot to appear right between your eyes and look down the barrel of my gun and rethink what you are about to do.
I protect myself because I can. Maybe you should consider protecting yourself and others too. Get you concealed carry license and let those criminals know who they are dealing with!
Anonymous
Jul 31, 2007
Hey Kenn,
LEAVE!!!!
Anonymous
Jul 31, 2007
911 Serves a very important role. It just doesn’t happen to be to protect my family and home. Thats my job. Not the police, Not the courts, Not the 911 operator. Me and Smith&Wesson. Come on In!
Anonymous
Jul 31, 2007
It’s not the 911 operator’s job to protect my family. It’s not the police department’s job either. Nope, not the court’s either. It’s my job, me and Smith and Wesson.
Jessica
Nov 02, 2007
As a 911 operator myself. I encourage everyone to check with their local police/sheriff’s office to see if they would let you sit in for an hour or 2 and listen to the calls. We deal with A LOT… from people asking for a ZIP CODE to talking to someone who has just been stabbed in the chest…it is an emotionally draining job…and in ref to the call where the the guys were breaking into the school… LUCKY IT ONLY TOOK THEM 15 MINUTES AND NOT 30-45 MINUTES TO GET THERE… if you or a loved one has just been stabbed…or in a bad car accident… would you want the officers going to a BURGULARY OF AN UNOCCUPIED BUSINESS OR TO THE SCENE OF A SERIOUS EMERGENCY?? you have to think…
clyde
Nov 05, 2007
i don’t call 911. the officers who are assigned the cases want to arrest anyone, guilty or otherwise. I was involved in a self defense shooting and am still entangled with the legal system after mistake upon mistake during the police investigation. crime has gotten so out of control in this country that the police no longer protect. they merely make examples.
TJ
Dec 29, 2007
I am a police disaptcher in the state of Washington. I agree with the other people that have said they work in this field….Try and do our job and see what we have to deal with every day, I doubt you could deal with it. We deal with all ranges of emotion and every level of stupidity that there is out there and we have to do it with a smile or it will end up on the news as something we did wrong. What is needed is a very good education program on how to use 911 and when to use it. if people were educated on how and when to use 911 then maybe the police and fire departments would be able to have a better response time instead of chasing down so many nonsense calls placed by people who know no better than to call 911 when the neighbors dog has been barking for an hour. Support your local police department and see what happens when you don’t call for so many stupid things that are not really a matter for the police.
paige
Jan 20, 2008
To all the 911 operators who have problems dealing with the emotional rollercoaster and stress of thier jobs maybe they to find a new occupation. It is your job to deal with these calls without prejudice and that little boy was not joking or a psychopath so what you had to say makes no sense on this incident. So Please resign yourself and find a job that isn’t too hard for you.
kat
Feb 07, 2008
First of all, the details of the call were not published here. Important facts were left out. So judging the situation from every angle is not possible. However, this situation does point to the fact that every call should be investigated. Now, as that thought sets in, think about how that can be accomplished. Every time we turn around there is news that police and fire agencies are in need of more staff – which means more tax dollars. Just some things to think about.