Fox News airs aidio of 911 call.

[Harry]

Fox News airs audio of 911 call were an intruder breaks into a home while a couple (wife & husband) are there to watch.

The wife is on the phone with a 911 operator describing the emergency (home invasion) and gives a "play by play".

The intruder breaks into the couples home with a chair while the wife screams in horror. The husband shoots the intruder defending their lives.

The operator asks what happened (after hearing all the screaming and other noises) and the wife explains that her husband shot the intruder who is still moving.

Now here's where I start to have all kind of red flags pop up and my own spider senses starts to tingle wildly.

The operator replies. "I want you to tell your husband to put the gun down."

OK, of course I wasn't there to see everything for myself but nether was the operator. The wife just explained that the intruder was still moving. Now call me crazy but why the hell would the operator want the husband to put the gun down when at this time it is still unclear if the intruder is subdued to the point to where he can no longer advance on the couple?

Is it me?

http://www.comcast.net/data/fan/html...an/default.xml

[camper]

IMHO, 911 operators are generally:

1 - wanna be cops
2 - people who coudln't BE cops for whatever reason (handicap, weight, etc)
3 - People who just needed a job


Most likely this person was 1 or 2.

camper

[Kimba]

Sorry, if the BG (Bad Guy) is still twitching, my gun stays in my hand until either the police show up or I know for sure he can't do any harm to me & my family.

[camper]

Sorry, if the BG (Bad Guy) is still twitching, my gun stays in my hand until either the police show up or I know for sure he can't do any harm to me & my family.

If the badguy is still twitching, I'm assuming he's coming after me.

camper

[Mohaa Player]

Note to self...........Never listen to a 911 operator

[JDePietro]

IMHO, 911 operators are generally:

1 - wanna be cops
2 - people who coudln't BE cops for whatever reason (handicap, weight, etc)
3 - People who just needed a job


Most likely this person was 1 or 2.

camper

That is a very ignorant thing to say. Unless you can provide actual evidence for that assumption I would classify that as slander.

I know quite a few stand up 911 dispatchers that try their hardest to calm people down and assist them through whatever situation they can. No I don't believe that response was appropriate, but I do believe that there was more to that call that would have been.

I have always been told that if I had nothing nice to say to simple say nothing at all.

If perhaps there are any 911 dispatchers on this board I thank you for you efforts.

[Harry]

That is a very ignorant thing to say. Unless you can provide actual evidence for that assumption I would classify that as slander.

I know quite a few stand up 911 dispatchers that try their hardest to calm people down and assist them through whatever situation they can. No I don't believe that response was appropriate, but I do believe that there was more to that call that would have been.

I have always been told that if I had nothing nice to say to simple say nothing at all.

If perhaps there are any 911 dispatchers on this board I thank you for you efforts.

I can appreciate your concern though the OP clearly stated that it's his opinion, not an assumption. I think there's a difference. Do I agree with his opinion? Well, I would only hope it's not so but I have little "actual evidence" to make such a "determination" one way or the other.

Also, I'm not convinced that what the operator suggested/told the wife to do did in anyway calmed her down or in any way somehow assisted her. Let me know other-wise please.

IMHO in this instance (as in most) the operator should just dispatch the police (if warranted) and when doing so relay ALL information that can be acquired rather then render what is IMHO faulty advise to the caller(s).

[sicario]

I would just like to know what this dispatcher would do if the woman calling said there were multiple attackers.

"Put the gun down and ask them to leave. No that didn't work? Wait 20 minutes for officers to arrive."

[son of the revolution]

If you listen to the 911 Call tapes from Navy SEAL Marcus Lutrell chasing down the scum that murdered his dog , you can hear the dispatcher telling him to stop chasing them and let law enforcement handle it several times . He finally gets exasperated enough to tell her he's a Navy SEAL and he knows what he's doing , and the guys arent going to get away .

I dont have any earthly idea , but is it maybe part of formal 911 Operator training to give " advice " like that and the " tell your husband to put the gun down " thing ? Or are these and many , many other similar calls simply people interjecting their own opinions into the situation ? And what happens if someone listened to an operator and then got hurt becuase they listened to bad and unsolicited advice ? I doubt the City/County Govt is going to accept responsibility ! Im honestly curious now .

[camper]

That is a very ignorant thing to say. Unless you can provide actual evidence for that assumption I would classify that as slander.

I know quite a few stand up 911 dispatchers that try their hardest to calm people down and assist them through whatever situation they can. No I don't believe that response was appropriate, but I do believe that there was more to that call that would have been.

I knew a few dispatchers, and they all felll clearly into those categories. I know that my 3 second list doesn't fit all of them, but it's a broad generalization. Just because a person can't make it as a cop, it doesn't mean that they're not well meaning, doing their best, or have ego problems.

Don't get me wrong--it's a tough job and most do the best they can. But I'm sorry, "put the gun down" is advice they have no business giving. They're job is to get the cops/emergency services there, and not play cop over the phone. If they don't know the threat, they shouldn't be advising how to react to it.

camper