Lancet Jades
05-02-2004, 09:15 PM
Disbelieving 911 operator ignored home invasion call http://www.wfaa.com/images/news/icons/video_icon.gif
09:36 AM CDT on Friday, April 30, 2004
By BRETT SHIPP (http://www.wfaa.com/bshipp) / WFAA-TV
A Fort Worth family is demanding that a 911 operator be fired after she failed to respond to a potential life-threatening situation.
Police are now investigating - and taking very seriously - the concerns of the Diaz family. They placed a 911 call while someone was attempting to break into their home, and they now say the operator blew them off during that time.
The kicked-in front screen door provides a sign that someone tried to break into the Diaz home two weeks ago. However, the best evidence may be the terror in the voice of Jeannette Diaz, 14, who placed the 911 call.
"There's people outside with knives," Diaz told the operator. "They are breaking down the door."
Diaz's mother can be heard in the background. Both had retreated to a back bedroom for protection, hoping police could hurry and provide the rest.
"I was scared that they had a gun and I was real scared that they were going to shoot," Diaz said later. "I didn't know what to do."
Her fear turned to anger, though, when the operator began questioning the validity of the call.
"OK, who were they, because strangers don't just come bang down your door with knives," the operator told Diaz. "Do you have a brother or father there who they were looking for?"
"I don't know, they were just screaming," Diaz replied.
"Ma'am, you need to be honest with me," said the operator.
Seconds later, after the would-be attackers left, the 911 operator decided the call did not merit a follow up by police.
"If they come back, please give us a call back," the operator said. "OK?"
Twenty minutes later, when brother Jose Diaz came home, he placed an angry follow-up call to 911.
"They thought we were playing, and we weren't playing," he said. "They messed up our door and we are over here waiting."
Then, in contrast to the first operator, the second operator responded.
"OK, we'll get out there, try not to touch too much," the operator told Jose Diaz.
The police arrived at the Diaz home 10 minutes later - not soon enough to quell the anger that still resides at the Diaz home.
"I was getting mad because she didn't believe me," Jeannette Diaz said. "We could have died that day if she kept (asking) questions ... I was telling her the truth."
The Diaz family complained to Fort Worth police, who are now wrapping up their investigation.
The preliminary results? The first operator did not do her job.
"They are not in a position, or shouldn't be in a position, where they should be questioning someone's honesty," said Ft. Worth Police Lt. Abdul Pridgen.
09:36 AM CDT on Friday, April 30, 2004
By BRETT SHIPP (http://www.wfaa.com/bshipp) / WFAA-TV
A Fort Worth family is demanding that a 911 operator be fired after she failed to respond to a potential life-threatening situation.
Police are now investigating - and taking very seriously - the concerns of the Diaz family. They placed a 911 call while someone was attempting to break into their home, and they now say the operator blew them off during that time.
The kicked-in front screen door provides a sign that someone tried to break into the Diaz home two weeks ago. However, the best evidence may be the terror in the voice of Jeannette Diaz, 14, who placed the 911 call.
"There's people outside with knives," Diaz told the operator. "They are breaking down the door."
Diaz's mother can be heard in the background. Both had retreated to a back bedroom for protection, hoping police could hurry and provide the rest.
"I was scared that they had a gun and I was real scared that they were going to shoot," Diaz said later. "I didn't know what to do."
Her fear turned to anger, though, when the operator began questioning the validity of the call.
"OK, who were they, because strangers don't just come bang down your door with knives," the operator told Diaz. "Do you have a brother or father there who they were looking for?"
"I don't know, they were just screaming," Diaz replied.
"Ma'am, you need to be honest with me," said the operator.
Seconds later, after the would-be attackers left, the 911 operator decided the call did not merit a follow up by police.
"If they come back, please give us a call back," the operator said. "OK?"
Twenty minutes later, when brother Jose Diaz came home, he placed an angry follow-up call to 911.
"They thought we were playing, and we weren't playing," he said. "They messed up our door and we are over here waiting."
Then, in contrast to the first operator, the second operator responded.
"OK, we'll get out there, try not to touch too much," the operator told Jose Diaz.
The police arrived at the Diaz home 10 minutes later - not soon enough to quell the anger that still resides at the Diaz home.
"I was getting mad because she didn't believe me," Jeannette Diaz said. "We could have died that day if she kept (asking) questions ... I was telling her the truth."
The Diaz family complained to Fort Worth police, who are now wrapping up their investigation.
The preliminary results? The first operator did not do her job.
"They are not in a position, or shouldn't be in a position, where they should be questioning someone's honesty," said Ft. Worth Police Lt. Abdul Pridgen.