A woman who was threatened with rifles by members of a motorcycle club in a rural San Joaquin County (Calif.) park dialed 911 to report the encounter, but a sheriff’s spokesperson says the dispatcher appropriately handled the call and didn’t send deputies to investigate. Terri Beam called about 10:30 p.m. to describe eight bikers pointing rifles and yelling at her family. She asked for deputies to “check out this situation,” but variously declined to file a report or become involved. Nevertheless, she didi ask for deputies to come seven times during the call. The sheriff’s dispatcher eventually told Beam that deputies would not be coming because, “We have emergencies all over town,” and that deputies would have, “more questions to ask.” Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Roy Iler said deputies later did do a “security check” on the park, but without more specific information, any other action was impossible. “He has to get all the critical information,” before sending deputies Iler explained of the dispatcher’s duties. Listen to the 911 call and other associated calls, and read more here.
2 comments… add one
Outlaw bikers with guns does not require a person to file a report. It simply requires deputies responding to the area, out of concern for public safety. I assume that it is still against the law in California for criminals to poses and point guns at people?
So, does this mean that if a person witnesses an armed robbery at a bank, in progress, the sheriff’s department will not respond unless the witness wishes to file a formal report?
What a load of BS. And we wonder why the public has distrust for government and 911.
Instead of making excuses, the Sheriffs Department should “man up” and just say “we made a mistake, we apologize”.
Stupid justification by the spokesperson. You don’t take “man with gun” calls over the phone..even if you think it’s BS. Unless something isn’t being told here, like the caller is chronic or known to the department…absent that this should be a priority call. It was totally mishandled.
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