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- Feb 12, 2005
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In April 2006, five-year-old Robert Turner called 911 -- twice -- to report that his mother was unconscious. Unfortunately, it sounds as if both of the 911 operators had their minds made up from the start -- so his call was labeled as a "prank." Not only that, but the operators can be heard scolding him on the tapes. Worse yet, by the time police finally got there, three hours later, the boy's mother was dead. Experts think she would have survived if she had received proper medical attention. You can read earlier coverage of the case here and elsewhere on-line.
Now, the first 911 operator has been convicted of willful neglect of duty. She could serve up to one year. It's a misdemeanor, however. At the trial, she testified that she couldn't hear him on the other end of the line. Robert, however, could hear her very clearly. If you read the transcript, that doesn't make sense as she clearly seems to be responding to the boy! Anyway, whether she heard someone or not, even though many of the calls they get are pranks, they're supposed to treat all calls seriously -- because you can't always tell which calls are serious! (Even the calls where you can't hear the person can be deadly serious.)
Also, charges were dismissed against the second 911 operator, who disobeyed protocol by sending the police instead of emergency personnel. You can see a YouTube clip of a news report here.
Now, the first 911 operator has been convicted of willful neglect of duty. She could serve up to one year. It's a misdemeanor, however. At the trial, she testified that she couldn't hear him on the other end of the line. Robert, however, could hear her very clearly. If you read the transcript, that doesn't make sense as she clearly seems to be responding to the boy! Anyway, whether she heard someone or not, even though many of the calls they get are pranks, they're supposed to treat all calls seriously -- because you can't always tell which calls are serious! (Even the calls where you can't hear the person can be deadly serious.)
Also, charges were dismissed against the second 911 operator, who disobeyed protocol by sending the police instead of emergency personnel. You can see a YouTube clip of a news report here.