Explanation Provided for Response Delay

Logging tapes and other information released by the Atlanta (Geo.) police department have now provided an explanation of why a fire response was cancelled last month for a heart attack victim at a local high school. Teachers dialed 911 and a dispatcher created a joint police-fire CAD incident, and Grady Hospital dispatched an ambulance. However, officials explained that nine minutes into the incident, a dispatcher learned that a school resource officer was already on-scene, and so a patrol officer wasn’t needed. A dispatcher then cancelled the incident, not realizing that the action also cancelled the fire department response. Officials said the dispatchers are learning a new CAD system and didn’t understand how joint incidents are handled. The student suffered a cardiac arrest, leaving the ambulance crew alone to perform CPR until a fire engine was re-dispatched. The student later died.