Rockwall Herald-Banner (Texas)

Opinion

January 22, 2010

The 411 on 911 ‘emergencies’ (Part 2 of 2)

In the previous installment of this series, we examined the unusual “emergencies” for which people have justified calling 911. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there, so we continue with our list of helpful hints on how not to use the emergency number.

Helpful Hint #4: Don’t Call 911 for Things Parents Should Be Able to Handle

When Angela Mejia saw her 14 year-old son playing the video game “Grand Theft Auto” at 2:30 in the morning on Dec. 19. 2009, it was game over. The exasperated single mother of four from Roxbury, Massachusetts called 911. Mejia had previously told her son to go to sleep, and even unplugged his PlayStation. But the family feuding escalated, and the frustrated mother called 911; police arrived, and were able to talk the boy in shutting off the game and going to sleep. My parents would’ve taken every video game away and beaten the living bejesus out of me. Ah, how parenting skills have changed with the generations.

The 911 operator who recently took a call from a 4 year-old boy had an abundance of patience. It turned out the kid wanted help with his math homework, especially subtraction (or as the little boy put it, “my take aways”). In a call you can actually listen to (along with other funny 911 calls) on www.entertonement.com, the indulgent dispatcher actually helps the boy with a couple of math problems before the child’s mother realizes what he’s doing. The boy, happy that “the policeman is helping me with my math,” reminds his mom that she said if he needed help he should “call somebody.” His mother replies, “I didn’t mean the police.”

In England, they have a similar emergency call system, only it’s 999 instead of 911. Just like in the U.S., they get their share of people who don’t know what really is or isn’t an emergency. A good example is the lady from Manchester who recently called emergency operators to report that “Me cat’s been playin’ with string.” Apparently, the cat had been playing with the string for two hours, and it was driving the woman nuts. The helpful dispatcher calmly explained that cats doing what cats are known for did not warrant calling the police emergency line.

Helpful Hint #5: If You’re Already Engaged in a Criminal Act, It’s Probably Not a Good Idea to Draw Attention to It By Calling 911

No one ever said criminals were smart. Take the two men in Pomona, California who called 911 in April 2008 and tried to buy drugs. It seems Paul White and Ryan Ogle were trying to page a drug dealer, and tapped “911” in what they thought was code for the urgency of their situation. However, they misdialed and called the real 911. Dispatchers traced the call and directed police to White’s and Ogle’s location, where the two men (who had a stolen car, drug paraphernalia, and suspected burglary tools with them) were arrested.

In April, 2006, Edward Sanchez called Dearborn, Michigan 911 operators to report that the marijuana-laced brownies he and his wife had eaten were making them sick. Although he insisted “I think we’re dying,” Sanchez rambled and also asked the dispatcher for things like the time during his 5 minute phone call. Sanchez, who just happened to be a police corporal at the time of the call, resigned from the police force “as part of an internal investigation” soon after the call. My guess is he would’ve really livened up the police bake sale that year.

In Sarasota, Florida, a 28 year-old man about to be pulled over by police as part of a traffic stop figured he could use 911 as a distraction. He made a fake 911 call to report an armed robbery taking place several blocks away. It seemed to work at first, when the police interrupted their chase to answer the new call. However, other officers were in the area, and they followed the driver into a nearby parking lot where they observed a gun in the car. The police investigated further, and discovered that the driver was a convicted felon and therefore not allowed to possess a firearm. They also later discovered that the bogus 911 call had come from his cell phone. He was arrested on multiple charges, although “criminal stupidity” was not one of them.

Helpful Hint #6: Don’t Call 911 If You’re An Idiot

As the saying goes, “better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and confirm everyone’s suspicions.” In April, 2009, a 911 dispatcher in Kissimmee, Florida had to tell a woman how to unlock her car. It seems the woman called 911 to complain that “My car will not start. I’m locked inside my car.

Nothing electrical works. And it’s getting very hot in here, and I’m not feeling well.” The 911 operator calmly suggested that the lady pull up the lock on the car door. The sheepish caller followed the advice, and informed 911 “Yes, I got the door open.” How proud she must be.

The examples in these articles may have been amusing, but they underscore a serious problem. Emergency dispatchers field an extraordinary volume of calls, and time is almost always of the essence. Taking up valuable police time and resources with matters that can hardly be classified as emergencies detracts from police and emergency personnel’s ability to quickly respond to situations where their attention is critically needed. Be sure to think before you dial.



John Browning is a partner in the Dallas office of Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, L.L.P. He may be contacted at: jbrowning@thompsoncoe.com

Text Only
Opinion
  • A look at this weekend's opening movies

    BIG MIRACLE

    Marine mammals actually brought about a Cold War thaw.

    February 4, 2012

  • It’s a safe world for judges out there, or is it?

    In a recent survey performed by AOL Jobs using statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job of judge was rated one of the best “lifestyle jobs”

    February 3, 2012

  • Kindness still goes long way

    Sometimes, a kind gesture or an encouraging word will come out of nowhere and at a time when you least expect it.
    How do I know that?

    February 2, 2012

  • RGB_Marijuana-4_1-26-12.jpg As weird as they wanna be

    Sometimes, the bizarre aspects of the legal world stand out.  There are the outrageous lawsuits, like the convicted drunk driver who sues the family of the motorist he killed or the burglar suing the business he was trying to rob when he hurt himself on their premises.  Then there are the litigants themselves, who often seem like refugees from a bad TV reality show.  Other times, however, you have to dig a little deeper into a police report, an indictment, or a civil suit to arrive at the truly weird kernel at the heart of the matter.  This week, I’d like to bring you my own little roundup of the legally weird.

    January 30, 2012 1 Photo

  • Looking at this weekend's movies

    MAN ON A LEDGE

    Precariously perched on the ledge of the 22nd floor of New York City’s Roosevelt Hotel, ex-cop and fugitive Nick Cassidy (“Avatar” star Sam Worthington) seems poised to jump. But Nick reveals to NYPD negotiator Lydia Anderson (Elizabeth Banks) that he does not intend to commit suicide. Instead, he says that he will remain on the ledge to prove that he is innocent of the crime for which he received a 25-year sentence.

    January 28, 2012

  • Turning over a new leaf to be kinder, gentler

    I want to share with you today about a new leaf that I’ve turned over. I promise to try to be kinder and gentler as often as possible.

    January 26, 2012

  • Bored with the movies? Go to the courthouse instead

    Like many Americans, I had more than my fill of three things this holiday season: turkey, egg nog, and movies.  Not just the big, splashy blockbusters, mind you, like “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” but also those smaller art-house films that become critical darlings and Oscar favorites.  But now, just as I resign myself to the filmgoer’s malaise that accompanies the string of movies released early in the year that won’t light up the box office or garner golden statuettes, I’ve realized that there is an endless source of almost cinematic entertainment waiting for me down at the courthouse.  So forget your local multiplex

    January 21, 2012

  • To wife Becky: I will be here

     

    It’s no secret that wife Becky and I speak in clichés.

    Our forever favorite is, “The best is yet to come.”

    January 19, 2012

  • RGB_obama1_1-12-12.jpg President Obama’s judicial nominees: A question of qualifications

    One of the many advantages that being president confers is the opportunity to shape the judiciary—potentially for decades to come—through lifetime appointments to the federal bench.

    January 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • A look at this weekend's opening movies

    JOYFUL NOISE

    Blame “American Idol” and its popular offshoots and, of course, “Glee” for sparking the return of the big screen musical.

    January 14, 2012

Featured Ads
House Ads
Poll

Will you vote in the County elections?

Yes
No
     View Results
Facebook

9/11 Remembered
AP Video
Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore. Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East 2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3% Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths 'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com