donna reneau dispatcher apology
So calm down.'. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so.". A former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation. 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. She was still genuine and sincere and kind and lovingand respectful.". Do you really care about your brand-new phone? Reneau asked, Youre over there crying for your life. Then, when Stevens says that she is afraid that her car will explode because she sees smoke, Reneau responds, How? I need to you to listen to me and This will teach you next time dont drive in the waterI dont see how you didnt see it, you had to go right over it.. An Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a drowning woman telling her to shut up just moments before she died has been cleared of all wrongdoing following an internal investigation, according to reports. Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge, the post reads. Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge', the post reads. Stevens had been delivering newspapers in the early hours in Fort Smith when she accidentally drove into rising flood waters that swept her SUV off the road. RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. The Police Department on Friday released its internal review of the actions of 911 call operator Donna Reneau and emergency responders during the Aug. 24 drowning of Debra Stevens, a newspaper. 'You're not going to die. According to a news release from the Fort . 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. 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. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. Stevens first called Diane when she became trapped. "How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and I think we all agree with that. Debbie Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. '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. Forget turnipsnow eat SQUIRREL! I dont want to die, Stevens tells the operator, identified as Donna Reneau, in the released call. 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. Reneau had submitted her resignation earlier in August and was on her last shift when Stevenss call came in. When the team did arrive to save her, the flooding delayed their attempts to get to her:When first responders were finally able to reach Mrs. Stevens and extract her from the vehicle, she had tragically succumbed to drowning., Wait. did this guy Danny Baker just say that #Donnareneau has had to endure things as a dispatcher that no one should have to? Meanwhile, the department's investigation into the matter is ongoing. 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. 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'. 4.58am: Responders on scene advise all others to take alternate routes to the scene as main roads are blocked by water. An external investigation by an outside agency is also taking place. Scotland's Quest For The Missing Remains Of Lilias Adie, An Accused Witch Who Killed Herself, The True Story Of Hattori Hanz: From 16th-Century Japan To Kill Bill, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. "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. Baker acknowledged Reneau would have faced disciplinary action if she still worked with the department but said he couldn't see anything that would have been cause for termination or a criminal investigation. 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. Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. When Stevens said she needed to vomit, Reneau hit back saying: 'Well you're in water, you can throw up it's not going to matter'. The first crews arrived on the scene about ten minutes later but had difficulty identifying Stevens exact location due to the high waters. Did they find her? She was not criminally charged in the death of 47-year-old Debra Stevens'. Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. ", RELATED:Awful New Details Revealed About The Teen Who Died After Being Crushed In A Parked Minivan Despite Calling 911 Twice. In 2019, 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau mocked and told Debbie Stevens, who was trapped in her car and drowning from floodwaters, to "shut up.". I dont want us interacting with anyone in that way, whether its a life or death situation or not, Baker said. Will you do the same? Her emergency call appeared to annoy 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau, who decided to lecture Stevens. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! "I'm scared. Debra Stevens, 47, had been delivering newspapers in the early hours of August 24 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, when she accidentally drove into rising flood waters that swept her SUV off the road. I cant get out and Im scared to death, maam. 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. Reneau was never charged, and on Friday, the Fort Smith Police Department announced that she had been cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal probe, the paper said. Newly released 911 audio reveals the final moments of an Arkansas newspaper delivery woman as she drowned in her car. ", The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help and for telling her this will teach you next time dont drive in the water., Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it.. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks notice, is under fire for her "uncaring" response. Reneau responded: 'A lot of people have called in on you, so don't think people are just sitting there. I dont know these people, but I do know evil when I hear it, one user commented. In the 911 recording . During the 22-minute-long call at 4.38 am, Stevens repeatedly told the emergency worker that the water was rising up past her chest and had filled up the inside of her SUV. A date has not been set for a memorial service for Stevens. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. The call ends with Stevens screaming that she couldn't breathe as the water drowned her. Debra Stevens did die. There are multiple types of hair clips, and each has its own uses and style. Flamingos form CLIQUES with like-minded pals, study finds. '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. They just weren't able to get to her on time, Mitchell said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. RELATED:New Details About A Baby Who Was Accidentally Locked Inside A Hot Car And Why A 911 Operator Refused To Send Police To Help. 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'. Next, read about the boy who called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped as floodwaters [] She told the dispatcher that she could see some people standing on their balcony watching and noted she thought it was 'pretty rude' they weren't helping her. Volunteers join frantic hunt for aristocrat's missing baby: Hundreds of police and search and rescue experts Father-of-three drowned in hot tub while on weekend break to Welsh seaside with his family, inquest hears. This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it'. I'm going to drown!" 'You're not going to die. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. Phase De La Lune sotrisme, Thank you for your dedicated service Donna!. 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. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. That said, he believes it is just people lashing out because they are upset and thatthere isnt anything that would rise to a threat level of concern, as most appear to be from out-of-state and include no specificity.". Dispatcher begins gathering information. Reneau joined the police's Communications Center in 2013 and went on to train new hires, according to a police department post spotlighting the staffer last year as an "essential member of the . Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! 'I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that time to save Ms Stevens life. Stevens eventually drowned. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. Her actions should make everyone sick. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a . "I can't swim! Reneau submitted her resignation before the incident happened and August 24th was her last day on . Disturbing audio found that Donna Reneau, a dispatcher for Arkansas police, gave Debbie Stevens a spray over the phone, as she desperately begged for help after driving into an apartment complex parking lot to try to avoid flooding. Birds of a feather really DO flock together! But what we want to do is not lose sight of the fact first responders were dispatched, the call was bumped in priority, and as much effort was done by our first responders to get to her," Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken said. 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. They're not going to get themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.'. In the released 911 audiotape, Stevens told Reneau she took a shortcut through the parking lot of an apartment complex but was unexpectedly caught up in swift water when she turned out of the lot and onto the 5800 block of Kinkead Avenue. "And, while the operator's response to this extremely tense and dynamic event sounds calloused and uncaring at times, sincere efforts were being made to locate and save Mrs. Stevens," the police statement added. Published August 31, 2019. 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'. RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. "You go ahead and start off the prayer, and I'll listen to you," Reneau responds. and Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com (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. According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. 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. Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. Reputation management expert reveals why it doesn't just happen to How did Russia lose HALF of its 45,000 elite paratroopers in just seven months? They said the 911 operator had dispatched Fort Smith Fire and Police units to help her but it made it difficult because she couldn't describe her exact location. 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. 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. Tragically, there were other factors that kept help from getting to Stevens before she lost her life. Debra Stevens repeatedly asked for help during the call, but was . This story was reported from Cincinnati. All Rights Reserved. She says the vehicle is now moving in the water'. Bettering work conditions - 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. Feel like youre always looking at a screen? 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. Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. Quoted as part of the post, Reneau brags about how much she values the work that she does and cares about those in need who call in for help. Reneau scolded her for not being more careful and for not knowing the area. Donna Reneau was working her final shift on August 24 when she received a frantic call from Debra Stevens, 47, having given in her notice two weeks earlier. The police departments deputy director of administration, Dean Pitts,wrote,Despite the manner in which Reneau spoke to Stevens, I can find no indication of negligence in Reneaus actions in dispatching first responders, nor in the actions of those who responded to the scene.. Brian Walshe Charged With Murder of Wife Ana Walshe, Missing Massachusetts Mom of 3 Last Seen in December, Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger Messaged University of Idaho Victim Multiple Times Prior to Her Death: Report, Missing 4-Year-Old Athena Brownfield Was Beaten to Death on Christmas Day by Male Caretaker, Authorities Say, Lisa Marie Presley Died Deep in Debt, Left Graceland to Daughter Riley Keough, Miss USA RBonney Gabrie Shows Off Her NYC Apartment After Being Crowned Miss Universe, 'Cult Mom' Lori Vallow 'Participated in Killing of Her Children' and Should Face Death Penalty: Prosecutors. Donna Reneau, who had resigned and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher, was the person to answer Stevens' call at 4.38am . ", Reneau also tells her at another point, "You're gonna have to shut up, OK?". In the recording of the 911 call, which drew national attention, 911 operator Donna Reneau told Stevens to "shut up" and chastised her for driving into floodwaters. Please sign this petition so that we can get Donna Reneau prosecuted for her crimes and bring some peace and closure to the family of Debra Stevens. Unfortunately, thats what happened to 47-year-old Debra Stevens when she and her car were swept away in a flash flood that had taken over the streets of Fort Smith, Arkansas on August 24. Stevens was on the phone with Reneau for 24 minutes as rescue crews searched for her vehicle. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. Stevens asked Reneau if the police would take her home after she was rescued so she could care for her dogs. Thanks for contacting us. 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. 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Her last shift when Stevenss call came in `` I do n't think people are just there. Car because of the call telling Stevens to `` shut up, OK? `` is not clear if '... On duty is busy on other calls may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or.! 911 Twice I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that to. Underestimated the urgency of the flood conditions the Teen who died After being Crushed in a Parked Minivan Despite 911.
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