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 Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation. Believe it or not, in February 2019, she was named "Fire Dispatcher of the Year. FORT SMITH, Ark. According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. 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. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so.". He said this emphasizes the need for more telecommunication training. Her car had been swept . 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. Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge', the post reads. To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and. 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. Reneau's interactions with Stevens made national news. "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. 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. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. A . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Reneau said, "The ability to help people in a time of an emergency." vtskeersttning resorb. She regretted telling her she was not going to die most of all, but she also regretted not being more kind and understanding, the report stated. 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. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a frantic 22-minute call from Debra Stevens' minutes before she died. Donna Reneau's reply was chilling: "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water." Minutes later, with the police still unable to locate the vehicle in the 4:00am darkness and the waste-deep flood, and with 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau still seemingly unaware of the urgency of the situation, the cell connection was lost. 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. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. 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. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. She makes me sick. Example video title will go here for this video. However, an investigation into our policies, our responses, our dispatch center, Ive talked to the fire chief. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. Did they find her? The water just didn't appear,' Reneau said. It is so unfortunate that her entire career willbe defined by this single incident. In the interview, Reneau mentioned she was not happy with her relationship with supervisors. Published August 31, 2019. "And, while the operator's response to this extremely tense and dynamic event sounds calloused and uncaring at times, sincere efforts were being made to locate and save Mrs. Stevens," the police statement added. 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. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. 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. Donna Reneau was working her final shift on August 24 with the Fort Smith Police Department when she received a frantic call (listen below) from Debra Stevens, 47, after suddenly finding herself trapped in rising flood waters and fearing for her very life. Thanks for contacting us. 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. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and the call came in during her last shift. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. They're not going to get themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger.'. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. 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. Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! 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. 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview Donna Reneau had with the Fort Smith Police Department four days after the incident. By the time rescue crews were able to secure the car, Stevens had drowned. FORT SMITH, Ark. 911 dispatcher who scolded drowning woman won't face charges - ABC News. When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. I'm sorry . 5.00am: 911 call is disconnected between caller and dispatch. Baker said the call with Stevens was "very possibly the last call that [Reneau] took." As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . Absolutely', he said. 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'. 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! 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. Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when she took the call from 47-year-old Debra Stevens, a newspaper delivery woman, who later drowned as her SUV was swept away by flash flooding. Newly released 911 audio reveals the final moments of an Arkansas newspaper delivery woman as she drowned in her car. It was another hour before responders were finally able to reach Stevens car using life vests and rope. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! 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? At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks notice, is under fire for her "uncaring" response. He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To know you have helped someone that needed it gives you a great feeling. But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. She worked in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a 911 dispatcher. Stevens had been delivering newspapers in the early hours in Fort Smith when she accidentally drove into rising flood waters that swept her SUV off the road. Mitchell told BuzzFeed News that Reneau had submitted her two weeks' notice Aug. 9. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. 'Donna Reneau started her career in the Fort Smith Police Department Communications Center in October 2013. Donna Reneau worked her final shift as a 9-1-1 dispatcher that morning, having given her two-week notice already. The family of a woman who drowned while a 911 operator appeared to mock her say they are appalled by the handling of her emergency, but they forgive the operator. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Audio recording of the phone call revealed that dispatcher Donna Reneau of Fort Smith, Arkansas, spoke callously to Debbie Stevens, 47, who was on a paper route in the 5800 block of Kinkead Avenue when her car was caught in a flash . We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. I cant get out and Im scared to death, maam. 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. Please help me. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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! Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. EXCLUSIVE - Revealed: Carol Kirkwood's secret toyboy fianc - 13 years her junior - is a divorced police 'Digital antidepressants' to be rolled out on the NHS as health bosses give eight apps and web-based therapy BBC journalists vote 'overwhelmingly' to stage series of strikes in move that could sabotage corporation's 'This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen!' Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. Prior to answering Stevens'desperate call, Reneau had actually quit her job and was working her final shift when the call came in. "She said, 'Please come help me, pull me out of the water, I'm stranded and I don't want to die today. When Stevens said she needed to vomit, Reneau hit back saying: 'Well you're in water, you can throw up it's not going to matter. This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it.. 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 also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. She makes me sick. In the 911 recording . She had submitted her two-weeks' notice in early August. 'To know you have helped someone that needed it gives you a great feeling. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. In the 911 recording . Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. ", 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 worked in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a 911 dispatcher. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. She told 911: "Please help me, I don't want to die! 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 . 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. 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. Police spokesman Aric Mitchell said Friday that Reneau dispatched emergency personnel to find Stevens, 47, who'd driven into an apartment complex parking lot to try to avoid flooding. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. 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. 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. Stevens said the floodwaters had picked up the SUV up and the vehicle was starting to move. 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. 2023 FOX Television Stations, in the 22-minute 911 call previously released by police, 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died, NFL owners to discuss Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder at upcoming meeting: AP source, Elderly couple dead in possible murder-suicide in Fairfax County: police, Southeast triple shooting suspect identified by police, Wreckage of US Navy submarine from World War II found off Japans coast, U.S. Reneau was on her last day as a 911 operator when the call was made, having turned in her notice two weeks earlier. The. 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. She intentional inflicted pain on another human being. Reneau does not face any criminal charges in Stevens' death. 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. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks . 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. Dispatcher begins gathering information. First Published: 10:49 AM PDT, September 25, 2019. 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. Phase De La Lune sotrisme, When Stevens said she needed to vomit, Reneau hit back saying: 'Well you're in water, you can throw up it's not going to matter'. 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