The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, repeatedly told a sobbing Ms. Stevens to calm down. He said at the time that the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge', the post reads. FORT SMITH, Ark. The face of #EVIL #donnareneau. (Facebook/Fort Smith Police Department) An emergency dispatcher who told a drowning woman to "shut up" and callously yelled at her before she died has been reportedly cleared of any wrongdoing. Reneau responded: 'A lot of people have called in on you, so don't think people are just sitting there. U.S. FOX News. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. "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. She intentional inflicted pain on another human being. 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Dispatcher Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift because she was quitting, abused the poor woman. Stevens eventually drowned. 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. 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. Hopefully, the changes they make to their policies get them back in the good graces of the people. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Reneau faced no criminal charges in Stevens death. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. 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. She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. Police in Fort Smith, Arkansas have issued an apology after a state. Absolutely', he said. RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. A former Arkansas 911 dispatcher was cleared of wrongdoing following accusations that she mishandled a call with a drowning woman and told her to "shut up" just moments before she died. For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 11 Strict Rules That Elon Musk Makes His Girlfriends & Wives Follow, Justin Bieber Suspected As The Father Of Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign (Instead Of Scott Disick), Why Kate Moss Was 'Scared' & 'Couldn't Get Out Of Bed For Weeks' After Working With Mark Wahlberg. Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker revealed Thursday that Donna Reneau (pictured) 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, Reneau, who had resigned and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher, was the person to answer Stevens' (pictured) call at 4.38am, Reneau, who worked at the Fort Smith PD for nearly six years, was billed by superiors as a dedicated operator who always does an outstanding job, as part of a glowing Facebook post during National Telecommunicators Week in April 2018. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. Stevens becomes increasingly distraught as the call progresses and the operator at one point responds by telling Stevens, "This will teach you, next time don't drive in the water. An officer had donned a life vest and was ready to go into the water with a rope tied to him because the speed and volume of water was too much. 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'. Will you do the same? He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. 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? Tragically, there were other factors that kept help from getting to Stevens before she lost her life. Now, herfamily is speaking out, telling Inside Edition they arefurious at the handling of her emergency. (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. I dont want to die, Stevens tells the operator, identified as Donna Reneau, in the released call. https://t.co/FqdZG2W6zZ pic.twitter.com/nlO9WLILcP, FOX 32 News (@fox32news) August 31, 2019. https://www.dailycelebuk.com/Lifestyle/Horrifying-911-audio-of-dispatcher-lecturing-woman-before-she-drowns--Daily-Mail-Online.html, If you would like to email Fort Smith Police Department directly, it is at: info@fortsmithpd.org. 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.". Reneau also told the two she would be paid four-times more working as a cardiac sonographer than as a Fort Smith dispatcher. 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. Reneau: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water." Stevens: "Couldn't see it ma'am. Also exacerbating response and rescue efforts were the facts that Mrs. Stevens was having trouble describing her exact location and flooding limited the ability of first responders to reach her, said a press releaseissued by the police. See additional information. He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? Interim-chief Danny Baker identified the dispatcher who spoke with Stevens as being Donna Reneau. 'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". , updated Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com It was another hour before responders were finally able to reach Stevens car using life vests and rope. ", 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. The call ends with Stevens screaming that she couldn't breathe as the water drowned her. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? Furious motorist is fined 650 after council worker paints disabled bay around his parked car. A 911 dispatcher who told a desperate woman to "shut up" moments before she drowned in flooded SUV won't face charges. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. 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. Stevens asked Reneau if the police would take her home after she was rescued so she could care for her dogs. I'm sorry . 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' Stevens later drowned. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. While Reneau's boss agreed that the way she spoke to Stevenswasn't ideal, he did admit that it wasn't so bad that he would ever have considered firing a dispatcher for it. 'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. I don't know why you're freaking out.". According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. 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. "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. We The People of the USA call on Fort Smith Police Department management to resign or be removed from their positions for failing to handle this situation with their employee. She's under water now.'. 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. I'm horribly sorry that it wasn't possible.'. "Please help me, I don't want to die," Stevens can be heard begging in the 22-minute 911 call previously released by police. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. 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 . The comments below have not been moderated. vtskeersttning resorb. She was not criminally charged in the death of 47-year-old Debra Stevens'. ', 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. A 911 dispatcher told a drowning woman to "shut up" in the moments before she died on August 24, reports said. There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. "The 911 call came in at 4:38 a.m. and was answered by Donna Reneau, who had previously turned in her two . FORT SMITH, Ark. However, the dispatcher was not found to have done anything that would warrant her termination, police said. Fort Smith dispatcher Donna Reneau sparked outrage in August after audio was released of her callous response to Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped in her car by floodwaters that eventually. Police spokesman Aric Mitchell said Friday that Reneau dispatched emergency personnel to find Stevens, 47, who'd driven into an apartment complex parking lot to try to avoid flooding. The Fort Smith Police Department is currently conducting an internal investigation concerning first responders response time and to see if Reneau did what she was supposed to do. Donna Marie Reneau, who previously was 'dispatcher of the year' at the Fort Smith Police Department, resigned Aug. 23, the same day she scolded drowning victim Debra Stevens during a. Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge, the post reads. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. Im sorry maam, I didnt see it, she said. (Jamie Mitchell/The Southwest Times Record via AP) Time was running out for Debra Stevens. 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. In the 911 recording . Reneau's interactions with Stevens made national news. 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. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. The Fort Smith Police Department are sweeping this under the table and refusing to take any criminal action against their employee who failed to do her job and caused a death as a result. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. The 911 call was in EXCESS of 20 minutes. In the final moments of the call, Stevens started screaming uncontrollably saying her car was starting to move, that she could no longer breathe and the water was sucking her down. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. 'I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that time to save Ms Stevens life. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. Luke Kenton For Dailymail.com Dispatcher begins gathering information. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. At one point, amid Stevens' cries and pleas for help, Reneau told her, "You're not gonna die, I don't know why you're freaking out The Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a woman crying on the phone before she drowned will not face criminal charges, an internal investigation ruled. 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. We are looking at what we can do to increase training for our dispatchers, swift water rescues, and other things.. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she. Police acknowledged the 911 call sounded 'calloused and uncaring at times' but insisted that 'sincere efforts' were made to try and located Stevens. 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. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. 'I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that time to save Ms Stevens life. No criminal investigation will happen. Tisane Hibiscus Mlisse Feuille De Mrier Bienfait, He needs to be fired. Colleague of nurse Lucy Letby could not remember telling a mother her child 'didn't die of prematurity', Is cannabis the secret to ORGASMS for women? 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. As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. She was later found dead. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after previously resigning, answered Steven's call for help and at times she can be heard yelling at her before she drowns. Feel like youre always looking at a screen? A . 17 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from 'donnareneau' hashtag '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. 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. JAMIE MITCHELL/AP. 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