Dispatcher’s Instructions Led To Caller’s Death

Police in Denver (Colo.) are investigating the handling of a 911 call from a road rage victim, during which a dispatcher told the man to return to the city for an officer to take a report, and which ended in the man’s death. Officials of the city’s 911 center say the dispatcher should not have required Jimma Reat, 24, to return to Denver from his apartment in adjacent Wheat Ridge, where he dialed 911. It’s not clear from news accounts if the dispatcher told Reat to return to the scene of the incident, or simply to any location in Denver. However, Reat did reluctantly agree to return to Denver, and arrived near the area where the original incident occurred. Within minutes, police say, the other party in the road rage appeared and began shooting at Reat and his three companions. Reat was fatally injured. Carl Simpson, executive director of Denver’s 911 agency, said the dispatcher is on paid leave during an investigation, and that he is a two-year veteran. He told a reporter, “The call transpired very quickly. It got sideways very quickly. I am deeply saddened by the events that transpired. This call left me very saddened for the family.” Simpson explained simply, “I do know he didn’t follow procedures.” Police have not released the logging tape of the call, but Reat’s friends say they told the dispatcher it was not safe to return to the scene. Simpson said the dispatcher should have sent Wheat Ridge police to contact Reat, as well as assign a Denver officer to coordinate the investigation with WRPD. Read more about the incident here.