'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. When we are unsuccessful, it hurts.". Donna Reneau was working her last shift as a dispatcher for the Fort Smith Police Department on Aug. 24 when she received a call from Debra Stevens, according to KFTA-TV. - A former 911 dispatcher in Arkansas was cleared of any wrongdoing in how she handled a call in which she scolded a panicking woman for driving into floodwaters before she drowned. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I don't know why you're freaking out. JAMIE MITCHELL/AP. 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. I dont want to die, she said. She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". She hasn't been charged with any crime. 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. So calm down'. To know you have helped someone that needed it gives you a great feeling. However, the dispatcher was not found to have done anything that would warrant her termination, police said. ", "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, I'm just scared," Stevens can be heard telling Reneau on the phone. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? "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. Stevens, 47, drowned as she. Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com
Reneau responded. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so.". 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. Did they find her? 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.". Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. 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 Police Department on Friday released its internal review of the actions of 911 call operator Donna Reneau and emergency responders during the Aug. 24 drowning of Debra Stevens, a newspaper. The Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a woman crying on the phone before she drowned will not face criminal charges, an internal investigation ruled. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. Stevens screamed as the water level crept up inside her car, which was stranded in floodwater. 17 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from 'donnareneau' hashtag 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.. I don't know why you're freaking out. Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. Reneau had given her notice two weeks earlier. Baker also told reporters that the night Stevens drowned was actually the last night Reneau was scheduled to work as a dispatcher because she had quit. 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. She intentional inflicted pain on another human being. She was later found dead. '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. ", RELATED:Awful New Details Revealed About The Teen Who Died After Being Crushed In A Parked Minivan Despite Calling 911 Twice. We've received your submission. 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. So calm down.'. Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! Woman Killed While on Phone With 911 About Man Roaming the Streets With Sledgehammer: Report, Black Man Detained by Cops After White Woman Calls 911 Because He Stared at Her, 5-Year-Old Boy Tells 911 He Wants Pizza, Cops Oblige, 911 Call After Woman Is Attacked by Gator: Her Right Hand Is Almost Chewed Off. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. 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? Diskretiseringsfel kan vanligtvis minskas genom att anvnda ett mer fint frdelat gitter, med en kad b Reneau was on her last day as a 911 operator when the call was made, having turned in her notice two weeks earlier. 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. Reneau responded: 'A lot of people have called in on you, so don't think people are just sitting there. Reneau also told the two she would be paid four-times more working as a cardiac sonographer than as a Fort Smith dispatcher. The 911 call came in at 4:38 a.m. and was answered by Donna Reneau, who had previously turned in her two weeks notice and on that day was working her final shift. By Luke Kenton and Emily Crane For Dailymail.com, Published: 16:27 GMT, 31 August 2019 | Updated: 06:41 GMT, 23 December 2019. When asked what would better work conditions at the police department Reneau said she wanted to answer with a quote. 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. Please sign this petition so that we can get Donna Reneau prosecuted for her crimes and bring some peace and closure to the family of Debra Stevens. RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. Debra Stevens repeatedly asked for help during the call, but was . The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Donna Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Debra Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help. 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. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. Reneau, who had been a dispatcher . Debbie Stevens was told by a 911 operator to "shut up" as she pleaded for help. 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. Reneau was on her last day as a 911 operator when the call was made, having turned in her notice two weeks earlier. Oh Baby - two of FOX 5 DC's evening anchors announce they're pregnant. Until August 2019, Reneau had an extremely stressful job. 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? Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped as floodwaters [] Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. - A former 911 dispatcher in Arkansas was cleared of any wrongdoing in how she handled a call in which she scolded a panicking woman for driving into floodwaters before she drowned. 4.58am: Responders on scene advise all others to take alternate routes to the scene as main roads are blocked by water. "I'm scared. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. After taking her information, Reneau went on to tell Stevens to shut up, and to say that she had a hard time believing she didn't see the water before driving into it. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. https://t.co/6w4OjW3sv2, Ali McGinnis (@AliRoland) August 31, 2019. 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. She was not criminally charged in the death of 47-year-old Debra Stevens'. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. I'm gonna drown,'" Diane recalled. glasfiberpool installation. 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' Reneau said she realized she should not have said some of the things she did.. 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. She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. The comments below have not been moderated. I'm scared! They're not going to get themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.'. Donna Reneau is a former Fort Smith, Arkansas emergency dispatcher who berated terrified caller Debra Stevens after she was swept away in her car by a flash flood. An Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a drowning woman telling her to shut up just moments before she died has been cleared of all wrongdoing following an internal investigation, according to reports. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car. See additional information. Next, read about the boy who called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. 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. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. An internal. She's under water now'. The. Her emergency call appeared to annoy 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau, who decided to lecture Stevens. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. Dispatcher Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift because she was quitting, abused the poor woman. Reneau had resigned from the department prior to this incident, . 'No evidence of criminal negligence or activities on former Operator Reneau's part. So calm down'. Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. 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'. Police Chief Danny Baker at the time said he could completely understand the 'disgust and concern' people have had over the interaction between the dispatcher and Stevens. 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. Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com
She worked in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a 911 dispatcher. 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. ', 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. She begged for the dispatcher to send help and said she was scared. Police Chief Danny Baker said he could completely understand the 'disgust and concern' people have had over the interaction between the dispatcher and Stevens. An internal investigation concluded that operator Donna Reneau violated policy by being rude during an August call with Debbie Stevens shortly before her death, but she did nothing that would have warranted her termination, according to the Fort Smith Police Department. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "We'll get you help and get you out of there." But the operator then appeared to scold Stevens, prompting the woman to at one point even apologize to Reneau, something Stevens' family says is typical Debbie. Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! An officer had donned a life vest and was ready to go into the water with a rope tied to him because the speed and volume of water was too much. (KFSM) A former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following . 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. According to a news release from the Fort . They just weren't able to get to her on time, Mitchell said. She also said another reason for her leaving was she felt like there was no way to "move up" within the department. 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." Debbie Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car.
Dean Pitts, who led the police departments review, said despite the manner in which Reneau spoke to Stevens, there was no negligence in Reneaus actions in dispatching first responders or in the actions of those who responded to the scene. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. 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. 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview Donna Reneau had with the Fort Smith Police Department four days after the incident. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. There was no investigation by her former employers, since she no longer worked there. 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. 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. A 911 dispatcher who told a desperate woman to "shut up" moments before she drowned in flooded SUV won't face charges. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. "How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and I think we all agree with that. I dont know why youre freaking out, Reneau snapped at Stevens at one point, leading to hundreds of complaints about her disrespectful response, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said. While Reneau's boss agreed that the way she spoke to Stevenswasn't ideal, he did admit that it wasn't so bad that he would ever have considered firing a dispatcher for it. Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Stressful start to National Offer Day? En'Joy" donna reneau dispatcher apology and
Please help me. 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. Debra Stevens did die. Example video title will go here for this video. 'You're not going to die. However, an investigation into our policies, our responses, our dispatch center, Ive talked to the fire chief. All Rights Reserved. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. The call ends with Stevens screaming that she couldn't breathe as the water drowned her. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she. A former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation. Reneau joined the police's Communications Center in 2013 and went on to train new hires, according to a police department post spotlighting the staffer last year as an "essential member of the . "I sure will., Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks notice, told Stevens that authorities will get there when they get there and that she's not going to die, at one point telling her to "shut up. All Rights Reserved. In the video above: Severe floodwaters hit Arkansas Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >> But seven months later, she would become known for telling drowning woman Debra Stevens to "shut up". Debra Stevens, 47, had been delivering newspapers in the early hours of August 24 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, when she accidentally drove into rising flood waters that swept her SUV off the road. Stevens can be heard asking the dispatcher at one point in the call. (Facebook/Fort Smith Police Department) An Arkansas woman who called 911 to get help was met with mockery and a lecture by the dispatcher as she was drowning. Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. 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. Reneau said, "The ability to help people in a time of an emergency." 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. Here's what to do if it happens. No criminal investigation will happen. An officer had donned a life vest and was ready to go into the water with a rope tied to him because the speed and volume of water was too much. Luke Kenton For Dailymail.com
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Dispatcher begins gathering information. Emily Crane For Dailymail.com
According to a news release from the Fort . 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. 'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. 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. RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Donna Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Debra Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. 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