11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. 5.00am: 911 call is disconnected between caller and dispatch. The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks earlier according to the Fort Smith Police Department, replied flippantly telling her. Stevens: "Please help me. Until August 2019, Reneau had an extremely stressful job. This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it'. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! 'Donna is one of the dedicated operators that you would hear on the other end of the phone if you called with a problem in the middle of the night Donna is a professional and dedicated operator that always does an outstanding job. 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. Absolutely', he said. Dispatcher Donna Reneau from the Fort Smith Police Department had given her two-weeks notice and was working her very last shift when 47-year-old Debra Stevens called in. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. 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 Reneau said, "The ability to help people in a time of an emergency." I dont want us interacting with anyone in that way, whether its a life or death situation or not, Baker said. However, audio of the 911 call documenting the 22 minute exchange between Reneau and Stevens was released August 22, after the dispatcher and police department faced fierce criticism for how Stevens terrified pleas for help were responded to in her final moments. Baker acknowledged Reneau would have faced disciplinary action if she still worked with the department but said he couldn't see anything that would have been cause for termination or a criminal investigation. 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. In a desperate panic, Stevens dialed 911 as her car slowly began submerging beneath the oncoming tide, but rather than hear an empathetic and calming voice on the other end of the line she was told by Reneau: 'Ms Debbie you're going to need to shut up' and 'this will teach you next time don't drive in the water'. Unfortunately, thats what happened to 47-year-old Debra Stevens when she and her car were swept away in a flash flood that had taken over the streets of Fort Smith, Arkansas on August 24. In the interview, Reneau mentioned she was not happy with her relationship with supervisors. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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? 5.00am: 911 call is disconnected between caller and dispatch. The dispatcher told her to "shut up" & "Well, this will teach you. There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. 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.". We've received your submission. 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. 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. According to a statement from the Fort Smith Police Department, the dispatcher, identified as Donna Reneau by local media, was working her last shift as a 911 dispatcher and dispatch trainer when she answered the call early Saturday morning. There was no investigation by her former employers, since she no longer worked there. He needs to be fired. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. Reneau faced no criminal charges in Stevens death. Stressful start to National Offer Day? ", "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water," Reneau responds. She said she felt like those that worked the third shift never saw a supervisor, and when people on her shift attempted to call a supervisor, they did not answer. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 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. Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com
Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. Stevens eventually drowned. Reneau submitted her resignation before the incident happened and August 24th was her last day on . She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. 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. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. FORT SMITH, Ark. Scotland's Quest For The Missing Remains Of Lilias Adie, An Accused Witch Who Killed Herself, The True Story Of Hattori Hanz: From 16th-Century Japan To Kill Bill, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Absolutely,' he said. The call was answered by Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher, after having resigned from her job two weeks before. "She was brokenhearted.". Third-shift supervisors do have a supervisor, but the supervisor works first-shift and Reneau said he was not available if dispatchers needed him. Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24, when Debra Stevens died. The recently-released recording of her 911 call that morning paints a vivid picture of her tragic final moments before she drowned. However, audio of the 911 call documenting the 22 minute exchange between Reneau and Stevens was released August 29, after the dispatcher and police department faced fierce criticism for how Steven's terrified pleas for help were responded to in her final moments. 4.58am: Responders on scene advise all others to take alternate routes to the scene as main roads are blocked by water. Do you really care about your brand-new phone? Reneau asked, Youre over there crying for your life. Then, when Stevens says that she is afraid that her car will explode because she sees smoke, Reneau responds, How? Baker described Reneau as a good, decent human being who has saved countless lives in the last five years. ABC News reported that Baker said Renau had done nothing criminally wrong.. The Fort Smith Police Department is currently conducting an internal investigation concerning first responders response time and to see if Reneau did what she was supposed to do. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. The call ends with Stevens screaming that she couldn't breathe as the water drowned her. A Fort Smith Police investigation into Debra . They just weren't able to get to her on time, Mitchell said. called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher. She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. Phase De La Lune sotrisme,
Feel like youre always looking at a screen? A frantic Debbie Stevens sobbed as she was on the phone with an operator in Arkansas while she was trapped in a flash flood on the morning of Aug. 24. By
The floods came on Reneau's last day at work after giving in her notice two weeks prior. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? She was later found dead. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. 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The Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a woman crying on the phone before she drowned will not face criminal charges, an internal investigation ruled. Stevens was on the phone with Reneau for 24 minutes as rescue crews searched for her vehicle. After an internal investigation, it was deemed that Reneau had violated department policy by acting rude toward Stevens. Dispatcher begins gathering information. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car, Reneau could be heard telling the first responders searching for her: 'I'm on the phone with her now and she is legit freaking out. Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'likely to join Britain's biggest charities in volunteering during the EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: King's museum plan for Buckingham Palace. I don't know how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it. RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. 11 Strict Rules That Elon Musk Makes His Girlfriends & Wives Follow, Justin Bieber Suspected As The Father Of Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign (Instead Of Scott Disick), Why Kate Moss Was 'Scared' & 'Couldn't Get Out Of Bed For Weeks' After Working With Mark Wahlberg. She begged for the dispatcher to send help and said she was scared. Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker revealed Thursday that Donna Reneau (pictured) 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, Reneau, who had resigned and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher, was the person to answer Stevens' (pictured) call at 4.38am, Reneau, who worked at the Fort Smith PD for nearly six years, was billed by superiors as a dedicated operator who always does an outstanding job, as part of a glowing Facebook post during National Telecommunicators Week in April 2018. 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? 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. Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. Girl, 2, looks star-struck as she presents Kate with a gift of Daffodils for St David's Mike Tindall's latest money-making scheme! We call for the investigation and criminal prosecution of Donna Reneau for her crimes of negligence and ignoring this woman's pleas for help as she drowned in her vehicle in the flood waters. Prince Harry 'hated woke nonsense' and 'made jokes we are no longer allowed to make' before meeting Meghan, 'We met a Princess'! Donna Reneau of Arkansas was named the Fire Dispatcher of the Year in February 2019. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. ", "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water," Reneau responds. 'Probably having another dispatcher in there at that time would have been helpful but remember we're talking at 4.30 in the morning so getting folks down there to assist with dispatch would have been difficult,' Baker said. Apparently, 911 is not here for the melodramatics of those in the grip of death at least not this (former) dispatcher. The call happened on Reneau's final shift. vtskeersttning resorb. Her actions should make everyone sick. Forget turnipsnow eat SQUIRREL! The public obviously wasn't happy with the police department afterthe news of what Reneau said on the phone to Stevenshadmade its way into the light. She says the vehicle is now moving in the water'. ", 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. "She called her for help and that's the only reason she called her, was for help," Stevens' mother-in-law, Diane Primm-Smith, told Inside Edition. By Rebecca Jane Stokes Written on May 24, 2020. When asked what would better work conditions at the police department Reneau said she wanted to answer with a quote. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. ", Reneau also tells her at another point, "You're gonna have to shut up, OK?". But what we want to do is not lose sight of the fact first responders were dispatched, the call was bumped in priority, and as much effort was done by our first responders to get to her," Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken said. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? Quoted as part of the post, Reneau brags about how much she values the work that she does and cares about those in need who call in for help. It is so unfortunate that her entire career willbe defined by this single incident. Did they find her? The horrific 911 audio has revealed Donna Reneau lecturing the distraught woman who feared for her life after driving into flood waters and telling her to 'shut up' in the moments before she drowned. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. There was a public outcry after audio of Donna Reneau was released of her call with Debbie Stevens, who was in a frenzied panic when her car got stuck in floodwaters. 5.58am: Rescuers get to vehicle and remove Stevens' body. Reputation management expert reveals why it doesn't just happen to How did Russia lose HALF of its 45,000 elite paratroopers in just seven months? Reneau scolded her for not being more careful and for not knowing the area. The recording (edited to remove sensitive content) was released by the Fort Smith Police Department in an effort to remain as transparent as possible regarding events that transpired during Stevens failed rescue. Reneau had submitted her resignation earlier in August and was on her last shift when Stevenss call came in. 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. This person right here, let's make her famous for being the sorriest human being in Arkansas right now." Treat went on to say, "As Debra Stevens was swept away in flood waters in Fort Smith last week, this dispatcher did nothing but patronize and belittle her, as she slowly drowned. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. Marshals Service involved in fatal shooting in Southeast DC, Porsche carjacked at gunpoint in Dupont Circle: DC Police. 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. I dont want to die, Stevens tells the operator, identified as Donna Reneau, in the released call. The comments below have not been moderated, By
I don't know why you're freaking out. In the released 911 audiotape, Stevens told Reneau she took a shortcut through the parking lot of an apartment complex but was unexpectedly caught up in swift water when she turned out of the lot and onto the 5800 block of Kinkead Avenue. There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. She makes me sick. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. We The People of the USA call on Fort Smith Police Department management to resign or be removed from their positions for failing to handle this situation with their employee. When Stevens explained that she hadnt seen the water coming before her car was swept up in it, Reneau made no attempt to mask her disbelief. Mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. McGill, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, at one point told Stevens to "shut up" during the horrific call, which was recorded and released after Stevens' untimely death. Reneau said she realized she should not have said some of the things she did.. She makes me sick. Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! Reneau responded. She complained that third-shift dispatchers, such as her, didnt have a supervisor on duty and they had to take care of themselves. "She was brokenhearted.". 5 Debra's last moments were captured in a chilling 22-minute phone call Credit: Facebook RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. . 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