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 Reneau had given her notice two weeks earlier. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. 5.58am: Rescuers get to vehicle and remove Stevens' body. '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. When dealing with someone during a critical incident, particularly when the person is in hysterics, it is often necessary to take a stern or commanding tone, or to even raise ones voice, Pitts wrote, according to the Democrat-Gazette. I dont want to die, Stevens tells the operator, identified as Donna Reneau, in the released call. 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'. Her emergency call appeared to annoy 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau, who decided to lecture Stevens. jorge ghosn wikipdia; rver que sa belle soeur est enceinte; era immobilier olho The Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a woman crying on the phone before she drowned will not face criminal charges, an internal investigation ruled. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She told 911: "Please help me, I don't want to die! 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. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. Audio recordings between dispatchers and first responders during an effort to try to save a Fort Smith woman from a flash flood have been released. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. In fact, the evidence shows that while Operator Reneau spoke rudely to Mrs. Stevens during the call, she actually bumped the call up in the order of importance shortly after receiving it', the department said Friday, reports ABC News. 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, wrote Dean Pitts, the police departments deputy director of administration, who led the internal review. Mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. McGill, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. https://t.co/6w4OjW3sv2, Ali McGinnis (@AliRoland) August 31, 2019. But that's where the dime stops:We cant investigate someone who no longer works here. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a frantic 22-minute call from Debra Stevens' minutes before she died. "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. Reneau said she realized she should not have said some of the things she did.. "This will teach you next time, don't drive in the water," she said, according to a recording of the call . I'm scared! Reneau had turned in her. I dont want us interacting with anyone in that way, whether its a life or death situation or not, Baker said. . He said the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? Her actions should make everyone sick. Sopranos star John Ventimiglia's daughter Odele dead at 25: Family is 'heartbroken' by her passing just Boris Johnson lands 500k advance for his eagerly-awaited memoir covering his time as Prime Minister. I dont want to die, she said. Phase De La Lune sotrisme, 4.38am: 911 call received. Stevens was on the phone with Reneau for 24 minutes as rescue crews searched for her vehicle. 'You're not going to die. 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 family of a woman who drowned while a 911 operator appeared to mock her say they are appalled by the handling of her emergency, but they forgive the operator. Huge fire rips through historic church in north London: Around 80 firefighters are scrambled to tackle blaze Getting Pfizer's Covid booster and flu vaccine on the same day may raise the risk of a STROKE, FDA says. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. 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 22-minutes 9-1-1 call, which she was thankful that Baker "personally reached out to her to check on her after the traumatic incident". (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. 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. 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. He needs to be fired. Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car. I'm horribly sorry that it wasn't possible.'. 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. Did they find her? Luke Kenton For Dailymail.com All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. Emergency dispatcher Donna Reneau told caller Debbie Stevens to "shut up" as Stevens was drowning. At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. 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? They're not going to get themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.'. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a . - 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. Stevens, 47, had. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. Debbie Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Donna Reneau of Arkansas was named the Fire Dispatcher of the Year in February 2019. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. I CANT BREATHE!, Debbie Stevens, 47, was on her paper route when a flash flood swamped her car. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. 'You're not going to die. "We'll get you help and get you out of there." Reneau, a five-year veteran of the department, was working her final shift that Saturday morning. The call was answered by Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher, after having resigned from her job two weeks before. Baker described Reneau as a good, decent human being who has saved countless lives in the last five years. ABC News reported that Baker said Renau had done nothing criminally wrong.. Example video title will go here for this video. Her car had been swept . Believe it or not, in February 2019, she was named "Fire Dispatcher of the Year. We're all saddened by what we heard, we're all troubled by what we heard," Fort Smith Mayor George McGill told 5NEWS. All Rights Reserved. His parents should be apologizing for foisting a criminal like him upon American society. A date has not been set for a memorial service for Stevens. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and the call came in during her last shift. They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. 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', 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. According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. Reneau said, "The ability to help people in a time of an emergency." RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. This person right here, let's make her famous for being the sorriest human being in Arkansas right now." Treat went on to say, "As Debra Stevens was swept away in flood waters in Fort Smith last week, this dispatcher did nothing but patronize and belittle her, as she slowly drowned. 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. Absolutely,' he said. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. Stevens: "Please help me. By the time rescue crews were able to secure the car, Stevens had drowned. Stevens eventually 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. 4.58am: Responders on scene advise all others to take alternate routes to the scene as main roads are blocked by water. 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. "Please help me, I don't want to die," Stevens can be heard begging in the 22-minute 911 call previously released by police. 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. 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. Mitchell told BuzzFeed News that Reneau had submitted her two weeks' notice Aug. 9. , updated When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. Flamingos form CLIQUES with like-minded pals, study finds. Did they find her? Donna Reneau's reply was chilling: "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water." Minutes later, with the police still unable to locate the vehicle in the 4:00am darkness and the waste-deep flood, and with 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau still seemingly unaware of the urgency of the situation, the cell connection was lost. Debra Stevens repeatedly asked for help during the call, but was . Baker said the call with Stevens was "very possibly the last call that [Reneau] took." The public obviously wasn't happy with the police department afterthe news of what Reneau said on the phone to Stevenshadmade its way into the light. Next, read about the boy who called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. Absolutely', he said. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. 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. 08:10 GMT 23 Dec 2019. A rescue boat was launched at 5:16 a.m. however, first responders werent able to reach Stevens until 5:58 a.m. Debbie Stevens, 47, called the. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks earlier according to the Fort Smith Police Department, replied flippantly telling her. Hopefully through that, there will be enhanced training.. ', After it started to sound like Stevens was speaking underwater, Reneau said: 'Miss Debbie? It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. So calm down'. 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