donna reneau dispatcher apology
Stevens repeatedly told the dispatcher that she was going to die because the water was rising up past her chest and had engulfed the inside of her SUV. There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. To know you have helped someone that needed it gives you a great feeling. Third-shift supervisors do have a supervisor, but the supervisor works first-shift and Reneau said he was not available if dispatchers needed him. Please help me. "She was brokenhearted.". I know the water level is high but you freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen so calm down', Reneau said in the audio. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she treated a drowning woman in her final moments could haunt her for the rest of her life. Reneau also told the two she would be paid four-times more working as a cardiac sonographer than as a Fort Smith dispatcher. She also said another reason for her leaving was she felt like there was no way to "move up" within the department. En'Joy" donna reneau dispatcher apology (Jamie Mitchell/The Southwest Times Record via AP) Time was running out for Debra Stevens. A paper delivery woman who drove into a flooded area drowned after being reprimanded by a now-former 911 dispatcher. There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. . Police acknowledged the 911 call sounded 'calloused and uncaring at times' but insisted that 'sincere efforts' were made to try and located Stevens. Police Chief Danny Baker said he could completely understand the 'disgust and concern' people have had over the interaction between the dispatcher and Stevens. For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do. Now, herfamily is speaking out, telling Inside Edition they arefurious at the handling of her emergency. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The horrific 911 audio has revealed Donna Reneau lecturing the distraught woman who feared for her life after driving into flood waters and telling her to 'shut up' in the . Reneau had turned in her. Rebecca Jane Stokesis a writer living in Brooklyn, New York with her cats, Batman and Margot. "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water," Reneau said. 'You're not going to die. 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Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. "I do think that that played a big role in her death," Diane said. They're not going to get themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.'. 'Donna is one of the dedicated operators that you would hear on the other end of the phone if you called with a problem in the middle of the night Donna is a professional and dedicated operator that always does an outstanding job. Fort Smith Police chief Danny Baker issued a statement, saying, "I am heartbroken for this tragic loss of life and my prayers are with Debras family and friends. We call on Fort Smith Police Department and Fort Smith city officials to investigate and prosecute Donna Reneau for these crimes that led to this woman's death in failing to do her job. Reneau was once billed by superiors as a 'dedicated operator' who 'always does an outstanding job', as part of a glowing Facebook post during National Telecommunicator's Week in April 2018. EXCLUSIVE - Revealed: Carol Kirkwood's secret toyboy fianc - 13 years her junior - is a divorced police 'Digital antidepressants' to be rolled out on the NHS as health bosses give eight apps and web-based therapy BBC journalists vote 'overwhelmingly' to stage series of strikes in move that could sabotage corporation's 'This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen!' Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. She couldve been deemed to have broken human resource standards if shed still been an employee but nothing to merit a measure of discipline as strict as termination, Pitts wrote. 'I have worked at the FSPD for almost 5 yrs now and truly care about my job and the people I talk to on a daily basis', Reneau says. Former 911 operator Donna Reneau, who sparked widespread outrage in August for chastising Debra Stevens in her dying moments, still did her job in all of the ways that substantively mattered, officials said in a newly released internal review. An internal. - A former 911 dispatcher in Arkansas was cleared of any wrongdoing in how she handled a call in which she scolded a panicking woman for driving into floodwaters before she drowned. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. ', Stevens eventually asked the dispatcher to pray with her while she waited for first responders to arrive and Reneau replied: 'You go ahead and start the prayer. Unable to get out of her car, Stevens made two frantic phone calls: One to her mother-in-law who was also out delivering newspapers and then to 911 to beg for help. 5NEW Why Fort Smith Dispatcher Resigned; City Leaders Weigh In on Shocking 911 Call, A local Black barbershop honors the community, Arkansas Governor Sanders signs executive order aiming to change foster care, More clouds Wednesday with storms by Thursday, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas, A lot of promises were broken to the third shift, She wanted to bring up the idea of possibly having a system where a dispatcher can have a "distress break" after they take a high-stress call, She wanted to bring up on her most recent incident, she felt really good that Chief Baker personally reached out to her to check on her after the traumatic incident. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! accusations that she mishandled a call with a drowning woman, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 'Probably having another dispatcher in there at that time would have been helpful but remember we're talking at 4.30 in the morning so getting folks down there to assist with dispatch would have been difficult', Baker said. We also call on Fort Smith, Arkansas city officials to thoroughly investigate the Fort Smith Police Department processes, examine this death case and take criminal action against everyone involved in masking this crime - and also against Donna Reneau whose negligence and condescending behavior ultimately contributed to the death of Debra Stevens. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she. The audio of the 911 call was. 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview. I know the water level is high but you freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen so calm down,' Reneau said in the audio. 'Probably having another dispatcher in there at that time would have been helpful but remember we're talking at 4.30 in the morning so getting folks down there to assist with dispatch would have been difficult,' Baker said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Im sorry maam, I didnt see it, she said. In the report, Pitts wrote Reneaus actions wouldnt have merited being fired and that its often necessary to take a stern or commanding tone, or to even raise ones voice when dealing with someone who may be hysterical in a critical incident. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. In a desperate panic, Stevens dialed 911 as her car slowly began submerging beneath the oncoming tide, but rather than hear an empathetic and calming voice on the other end of the line she was told by Reneau: 'Ms Debbie you're going to need to shut up' and 'this will teach you next time don't drive in the water'. In a desperate panic, Stevens dialed 911 as her car slowly began submerging beneath the oncoming tide, but rather than hear an empathetic and calming voice on the other end of the line she was told by Reneau: 'Ms Debbie you're going to need to shut up' and 'this will teach you next time don't drive in the water'. Here's what to do if it happens. 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' The call happened on Reneau's final shift. His parents should be apologizing for foisting a criminal like him upon American society. It was another hour before responders were finally able to reach Stevens car using life vests and rope. vtskeersttning resorb. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after previously resigning, answered Stevens call for help and at times she can be heard yelling at her before she drowns. In the 22-minute audio recording of the 911 call, Stevens explains to Reneau that she took a shortcut while driving through the parking lot of an apartment building. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. Police in Fort Smith, Arkansas have issued an apology after a state. So now he is demanding an apology. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Published August 31, 2019. Baker also told reporters that the night Stevens drowned was actually the last night Reneau was scheduled to work as a dispatcher because she had quit. called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. Debra Stevens did die. "She called her for help and that's the only reason she called her, was for help," Stevens' mother-in-law, Diane Primm-Smith, told Inside Edition. Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. A former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation. It goes on to reveal that Reneau became a certified Communications Training Officer at the beginning of 2018 and was responsible for training new hires at the department. Stressful start to National Offer Day? Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com A 911 dispatcher who told a desperate woman to "shut up" moments before she drowned in flooded SUV won't face charges. See for yourself by trying this new quiz devised by cardiologists One in five teenage boys or their friends have been offered work supplying drugs by county lines gangs who Head over heels for Kate! You had to go right over it, she said. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. 'Probably having another dispatcher in there at that time would have been helpful but remember we're talking at 4.30 in the morning so getting folks down there to assist with dispatch would have been difficult', Baker said. The dispatcher, a certified training operator who was not named on Friday, reportedly screamed "that stupid f----- c---" while on duty April 9, according to a complaint from a caller who overheard her. 'You're not going to die. Birds of a feather really DO flock together! At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. Stevens repeatedly apologized to the dispatcher, saying she didn't even see the water before she drove into it and that she had never done anything like this before. Stevens screamed as the water level crept up inside her car, which was stranded in floodwater. Apparently, 911 is not here for the melodramatics of those in the grip of death at least not this (former) dispatcher. 08:10 GMT 23 Dec 2019. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? We call on Fort Smith Police Department and Fort Smith city officials to investigate and prosecute Donna Reneau for these crimes that led to this woman's death in failing to do her job. Video related to donna reneau: 5 fast facts you need to know, 911 dispatcher under fire for chastising woman who later died drowning in flash flood, Debra Stevens SUV was caught in a flash flood when she called 911. Oh Baby - two of FOX 5 DC's evening anchors announce they're pregnant. For five years, she worked as a 911 dispatcher and she was so good at her job that she was actually certified to help other people, too. So calm down'. They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. When Stevens explained that she hadnt seen the water coming before her car was swept up in it, Reneau made no attempt to mask her disbelief. (Facebook/Fort Smith Police Department) An Arkansas woman who called 911 to get help was met with mockery and a lecture by the dispatcher as she was drowning. Stevens first called Diane when she became trapped. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped as floodwaters [] She was not criminally charged in the death of 47-year-old Debra Stevens'. Police Chief Danny Baker at the time said he could completely understand the 'disgust and concern' people have had over the interaction between the dispatcher and Stevens. A 911 operator who lectured a drowning woman for accidentally driving into rising floodwaters in Arkansas and told her to 'shut up' minutes before she died will not be facing charges after an internal investigation. Absolutely', he said. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks . By the time rescue crews were able to secure the car, Stevens had drowned. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as aFort Smith Police Department dispatcher. https://t.co/6w4OjW3sv2, Ali McGinnis (@AliRoland) August 31, 2019. Her emergency call appeared to annoy 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau, who decided to lecture Stevens. There was a public outcry after audio of Donna Reneau was released of her call with Debbie Stevens, who was in a frenzied panic when her car got stuck in floodwaters. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. . Her car had been swept . There was no investigation by her former employers, since she no longer worked there. "I sure will., Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks notice, told Stevens that authorities will get there when they get there and that she's not going to die, at one point telling her to "shut up. Dispatcher Donna Reneau from the Fort Smith Police Department had given her two-weeks notice and was working her very last shift when 47-year-old Debra Stevens called in. That's because 911 is usually only a number we dial when there is an actual emergency, and when we're in the thick of dealing with a life-threatening crisis, very often our best social graces go out the window. "How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and I think we all agree with that. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car, Reneau could be heard telling the first responders searching for her: 'I'm on the phone with her now and she is legit freaking out. Mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. McGill, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. I'm horribly sorry that it wasn't possible'. Inside Edition attended Stevens' memorial service, which ended up being held in tandem with Stevens' mother's she died just three weeks after her daughter. She makes me sick. I'm scared! Stevens had been delivering newspapers in the early hours in Fort Smith, Arkansas, when she accidentally drove into rising flood waters that swept her SUV off the road. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. - A former 911 dispatcher in Arkansas was cleared of any wrongdoing in how she handled a call in which she scolded a panicking woman for driving into floodwaters before she drowned. - A former 911 dispatcher in Arkansas was cleared of any wrongdoing in how she handled a call in which she scolded a panicking woman for driving into floodwaters before she drowned. To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. Absolutely', he said. 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. A date has not been set for a memorial service for Stevens. Until August 2019, Reneau had an extremely stressful job. Did they find her? The dispatcher hung up. Reneau's actions are now being investigated by the Fort Smith PD. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. Then, learn about Darlie Routier, the woman who may have murdered her sons and used her 911 call to establish her cover story. That needed it gives you a great feeling that played a big role in her death, said... Got trapped by flash flooding this exchange with the dispatcher understand that, even it. Understand that was inappropriate, and how she `` move up '' within the department needed him now. How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and how she by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau accepting... 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