| 911 Call Tape Released After Resignation |
| Friday, March 14 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||
Old Saybrook (Conn.) police officials have released the logging tape of a two-minute call that dispatcher David McDonald made to a man who had dialed 911. The man's wireless call was answered by the county 911 center, and lasted only 14 seconds before disconnecting. The call information was relayed to McDonald, who then called the man, believed to be 70 year-old Ron Gebo. McDonald questioned the man, who was difficult to understand, but eventually said, "Yea," when McDonald asked if he was okay. McDonald didn't dispatch anyone to investigate, and the man and his living companion were found dead two days later. Listen (mp3) to the county dispatcher's call to McDonald, and then the telephone call to Gebo here.
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Comments (9)
Bob
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He should have traced the caller's cell number with the company, gotten an address and sent them to the caller's home. End of story. |
Jessica
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I am also a 911 dispatcher and after listening to the call I would have kept trying to get his location or would have located it myself. I took some college courses to become an RN and also worked at a nursing home. It was very apparent from the call that the male had what is a known as "the death rattle". I think this is why he was so hard to understand. I do sympathize with Mr.Mcdonald. I am sure that the regret that he feels is worse than any punishment he could have ever received. We are all human and the male subject did say that he was ok and that the call was just an accident. I know how I would feel if I was in his shoes. |
Josh
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I do not work as a dispatcher, I was just researching a job I will be applying for and came across this site. Anyways after listening to this it would be hard to say what I would do for sure. I mean he said he was okay, said he had someone with him, and he knew where he was. What was the COD for them? Someone should have been sent just because of the breathing. This guy needed some help, but he denied the attention. If someone was sent who is to say the door would have been opened? Or the responders wouldn't have been shoed away. My grandma died in a similar way, she was actually drunk... Fell in her driveway and was knocked un-concious with a large gash in her head. When she woke up, she called 9-1-1 and then called our house. My mom answered the phone and could hear the paramedics pounding on the door. SHE WOULDN'T LET THEM IN. We had to drive over there so that she would open the door, by then it was too late there was blood everywhere and she was in a coma in her bedroom. She stayed plugged in for a few days until we knew there was no hope. |
CHAS
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I have listened to that call and help should have been sent: Transfer with trouble breathing. Yes he dailed 911. When he was asked if he was alone he was saying a males man and what sounds like he was have problems to but he was talked over by the call taker. Need help? I don't know i'v been up here for 4 days like this. Where are you? Home now but didn't think i'd make it, when he was asked his name: feel out of breath, okay I got to go now I need to rest. Are you okay? Yea. This call taker would ask questions and then talk over the man every time (active listening is the name of the game people). Why would you do that? All these answers where hints that the man needed medical, when the call taker knew he was at home and knew he was on the cell phone he should and could have had that bad boy traced and located off a tower, got him and help and this would not be a story of death but how one dispatcher who found a man in distress with nothing to go on I feel sorry for ron who called for help and got no response but for the call taker this was just a pour dissesion on his part and should have been in a different line of work. I know we all somtimes get numb with the same old stuff over and over again but think if that was your family needing the help wouldn't you want the person who answers the call to care? |
MRD
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I agree steps should have been taken. I am not defending anyone but do you all agree its time to stop going with the lowest bidder and get the best equipment in your station possible. |
leslie
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I agree with Molly. I am a 911 Dispatcher and after listening to the 911 call, it is clear the caller is in distress and appropriate steps should have been taken to get the caller's exact location so help could have been sent. The caller's life could have been saved. |
AW
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That's really easy to say because something unfortunate happened, but in reality, I would have taken the same steps. He said he was okay and that he didn't need help and that he was not alone. He also said he dialed 911 by mistake. I feel so sorry that Mr. McDonald is going to always wonder if he could have done more to save someone's life. |
Sharon
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I agree, but I could see that happening in lots of centers because the guy did say he was okay and the communicator did ask several times. I listen to that and hope I would have sent someone, but it is a good reminder of the mantra you quoted..."when in doubt send them out!" |
Molly
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Prime example of when in doubt send them out. The caller is obviously in distress and additional steps should have been taken to determine his location for a response. |
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