FORT SMITH, Ark. But, even when calm down is required, what 911 callers dont expect when theyre frantic for help is condescension and impatience from the operator, and certainly not during the last moments of their life. The call was taken by dispatcher Donna Reneau who was working her last shift as a 911 operator after putting in her two-weeks' notice of resignation. U.S. FOX News. Acting Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker said Donna Reneau was working her final shift when Debra Stevens died. Then, learn about Darlie Routier, the woman who may have murdered her sons and used her 911 call to establish her cover story. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. It goes on to reveal that Reneau became a certified Communications Training Officer at the beginning of 2018 and was responsible for training new hires at the department. Female carer who bit off part of a pub landlady's ear during vicious bar brawl is jailed for 14 months. Reneau faced no criminal charges in Stevens death. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. In the 911 recording . She says the vehicle is now moving in the water. She worked in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a 911 dispatcher. We are looking at what we can do to increase training for our dispatchers, swift water rescues, and other things.. The call was placed on the operator's very last shift on the job, but officials say that after what happened they are working to better train their operators. There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. The. Since Reneau no longer works for the. That said, he believes it is just people lashing out because they are upset and thatthere isnt anything that would rise to a threat level of concern, as most appear to be from out-of-state and include no specificity.". 911 dispatcher who scolded drowning woman won't face charges - ABC News. The Associated Press contributed. According to a news release from the Fort . See for yourself by trying this new quiz devised by cardiologists One in five teenage boys or their friends have been offered work supplying drugs by county lines gangs who Head over heels for Kate! Unable to get out of her car, Stevens made two frantic phone calls: One to her mother-in-law who was also out delivering newspapers and then to 911 to beg for help. An external investigation by an outside agency is also taking place. A former Arkansas 911 dispatcher was cleared of wrongdoing following accusations that she mishandled a call with a drowning woman and told her to "shut up" just moments before she died. Tue, Jan 24, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 She told Baker and Solis she was accepted into the cardiovascular Technology program at Arkansas Tech University. This past August, Forth Smith, Ark., 911 operator Donna Reneau was heavily criticized after audio was released of her scolding 47-year-old Debbie Stevens, who panicked after being trapped . When the team did arrive to save her, the flooding delayed their attempts to get to her:When first responders were finally able to reach Mrs. Stevens and extract her from the vehicle, she had tragically succumbed to drowning., Wait. did this guy Danny Baker just say that #Donnareneau has had to endure things as a dispatcher that no one should have to? An internal. Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. Dispatcher Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift because she was quitting, abused the poor woman. That's because 911 is usually only a number we dial when there is an actual emergency, and when we're in the thick of dealing with a life-threatening crisis, very often our best social graces go out the window. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and. Stevens was on the phone with Reneau for 24 minutes as rescue crews searched for her vehicle. Police said the 911 operator had dispatched Fort Smith Fire and Police units to help Stevens but it made it difficult because she couldn't describe her exact location. Fort Smith dispatcher Donna Reneau sparked outrage in August after audio was released of her callous response to Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped in her car by floodwaters that eventually. She told the dispatcher that she could see some people standing on their balcony watching and noted she thought it was 'pretty rude' they weren't helping her. When asked what would better work conditions at the police department Reneau said she wanted to answer with a quote. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. The 911 call was in EXCESS of 20 minutes. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. Stevens eventually drowned. Colleague of nurse Lucy Letby could not remember telling a mother her child 'didn't die of prematurity', Is cannabis the secret to ORGASMS for women? "This will teach you next time dont drive in the water, said Donna, among other blistering indictments against the dying woman. 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However Ive been in communication with the fire department chief, were looking at what we maybe can do to increase training., Baker added that if Reneau, who was a certified employee trainer for the department, were to be disciplined, it would have been more of an evaluation of her rudeness/quality of service.. At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. Example video title will go here for this video. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks notice, is under fire for her "uncaring" response. When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. A 911 operator who lectured a drowning woman for accidentally driving into rising floodwaters in Arkansas and told her to 'shut up' minutes before she died will not be facing charges after an internal investigation. The manner that she spoke during this conversation would have probably been addressed, but it would have been more a rudeness quality-type service complaint. Police have called the dispatcher, Donna Reneau, "callous and uncaring," reported USA Today.. Stevens called at around 4:30 a.m. and said that she was in an emergency situation. Inside the forest palace 'Putin shares with his gymnast lover and their secret children': Luxury estate My nightmare neighbours kept throwing condoms and rubbish in our garden - I took epic revenge and they never Seat swapping on planes is a hot topic - but what ARE the do's and don'ts? She makes me sick. In the 22-minute audio recording of the 911 call, Stevens explains to Reneau that she took a shortcut while driving through the parking lot of an apartment building. 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I don't know how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it. "We'll get you help and get you out of there." I cant get out and Im scared to death, maam. Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. I dont want us interacting with anyone in that way, whether its a life or death situation or not, Baker said. RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. 17 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from 'donnareneau' hashtag Absolutely', he said. To know you have helped someone that needed it gives you a great feeling. Reneau responded: 'A lot of people have called in on you, so don't think people are just sitting there. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The first crews arrived on the scene about ten minutes later but had difficulty identifying Stevens exact location due to the high waters. Until August 2019, Reneau had an extremely stressful job. As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . I know the water level is high but you freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen so calm down,' Reneau said in the audio. Stevens eventually asked the dispatcher to pray with her while she waited for first responders to arrive and Reneau replied: 'You go ahead and start the prayer'. Donna Marie Reneau, who previously was dispatcher of the year at the Fort Smith Police Department, resigned Aug. 23, the same day she scolded drowning victim Debra Stevens during a 22-minutes 9-1-1 call, which she was thankful that Baker personally reached out to her to check on her after the traumatic incident. . Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! "The 911 call came in at 4:38 a.m. and was answered by Donna Reneau, who had previously turned in her two . 5.58am: Rescuers get to vehicle and remove Stevens' body. When we are unsuccessful, it hurts.". I'm scared! Did they find her? He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. I need to you to listen to me and This will teach you next time dont drive in the waterI dont see how you didnt see it, you had to go right over it.. Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker revealed Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift on August 24 when she received a frantic call from Debra Stevens, 47, having given in her notice two weeks earlier. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as aFort Smith Police Department dispatcher. A woman in Arkansas drowned in floodwaters shortly after getting on the phone with an emergency dispatcher who scolded her for driving during the storm. ", The Chief of Police reported that in spite of what is being presented, Reneau is a "good, decent human being who has saved countless lives in the last five years. Stevens had been. Stevens repeatedly told the dispatcher that she was going to die because the water was rising up past her chest and had engulfed the inside of her SUV. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. 'No evidence of criminal negligence or activities on former Operator Reneau's part. RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' When the team did arrive to save her, the flooding delayed their attempts to get to her:When first responders were finally able to reach Mrs. Stevens and extract her from the vehicle, she had tragically succumbed to drowning., Wait. did this guy Danny Baker just say that #Donnareneau has had to endure things as a dispatcher that no one should have to? Newly released 911 audio reveals the final moments of an Arkansas newspaper delivery woman as she drowned in her car. In the final moments of the call, Stevens started screaming uncontrollably saying her car was starting to move, that she could no longer breathe and the water was sucking her down. Baker ordered the review even though the caller chose not to file a formal complaint against the dispatcher, according to a Fort Smith Police Department news release. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. Dispatcher begins gathering information. 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. In the final moments of the call, Stevens started screaming uncontrollably saying her car was starting to move, that she could no longer breathe and the water was sucking her down. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she. "She was brokenhearted.". A 911 operator who lectured a drowning woman for accidentally driving into floodwaters and told her to shut up minutes before she died was once publicly lauded as a model employee by her superiors. We call on Fort Smith Police Department and Fort Smith city officials to investigate and prosecute Donna Reneau for these crimes that led to this woman's death in failing to do her job. Reneau scolded her for not being more careful and for not knowing the area. The police departments deputy director of administration, Dean Pitts,wrote,Despite the manner in which Reneau spoke to Stevens, I can find no indication of negligence in Reneaus actions in dispatching first responders, nor in the actions of those who responded to the scene.. The investigation was. Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after previously resigning, answered Steven's call for help and at times she can be heard yelling at her before she drowns. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. Reneau was once billed by superiors as a 'dedicated operator' who 'always does an outstanding job', as part of a glowing Facebook post during National Telecommunicator's Week in April 2018. and Fort Smith Police chief Danny Baker issued a statement, saying, "I am heartbroken for this tragic loss of life and my prayers are with Debras family and friends. Reneau's actions are now being investigated by the Fort Smith PD. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. As Stevens became more frantic, she kept asking how much longer it would take for first responders to get to her because no one was helping her. Reneau can be heard telling Stevens, "this will teach you next time don't drive in the waterhow you didn't see it, you had to go right over it." Here's what to do if it happens. 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview. A rescue boat was launched at 5:16 a.m. however, first responders werent able to reach Stevens until 5:58 a.m. Debbie Stevens, 47, called the. He said the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. At one point, amid Stevens' cries and pleas for help, Reneau told her, "You're not gonna die, I don't know why you're freaking out 5NEW Why Fort Smith Dispatcher Resigned; City Leaders Weigh In on Shocking 911 Call, A local Black barbershop honors the community, Arkansas Governor Sanders signs executive order aiming to change foster care, More clouds Wednesday with storms by Thursday, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas, A lot of promises were broken to the third shift, She wanted to bring up the idea of possibly having a system where a dispatcher can have a "distress break" after they take a high-stress call, She wanted to bring up on her most recent incident, she felt really good that Chief Baker personally reached out to her to check on her after the traumatic incident. The water just didn't appear,' Reneau said. Stevens later drowned. 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