That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water," Reneau said. Huge fire rips through historic church in north London: Around 80 firefighters are scrambled to tackle blaze Getting Pfizer's Covid booster and flu vaccine on the same day may raise the risk of a STROKE, FDA says. The Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a woman crying on the phone before she drowned will not face criminal charges, an internal investigation ruled. 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. The woman's call was answered by dispatcher Donna Reneau (pictured above), who was working her last shift as a 911 operator after she resigned earlier this month. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. Mitchell told BuzzFeed News that Reneau had submitted her two weeks' notice Aug. 9. She makes me sick. During the 22-minute-long call at 4.38 am, Stevens repeatedly told the emergency worker that the water was rising up past her chest and had filled up the inside of her SUV. '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. 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. The first crews arrived on the scene about ten minutes later but had difficulty identifying Stevens exact location due to the high waters. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. "Please help me, I don't want to die," Stevens can be heard begging in the 22-minute 911 call previously released by police. Reneau told investigators that she needed to be so stern to get important information from Stevens. Stevens explained on the call that she was trapped in her car and that the water flooding the interior was already up to her chest and to make matters worse, she couldn't swim. Authorities responded to the scene 12 minutes after Stevens dialed 911, but it took more than an hour to reach Stevens' vehicle because of the floodwaters. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. 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. Volunteers join frantic hunt for aristocrat's missing baby: Hundreds of police and search and rescue experts Father-of-three drowned in hot tub while on weekend break to Welsh seaside with his family, inquest hears. 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. Sopranos star John Ventimiglia's daughter Odele dead at 25: Family is 'heartbroken' by her passing just Boris Johnson lands 500k advance for his eagerly-awaited memoir covering his time as Prime Minister. Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. 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. 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. The Associated Press contributed. 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." 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. 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. I don't know why you're freaking out.". ", Reneau also tells her at another point, "You're gonna have to shut up, OK?". She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. The face of #EVIL #donnareneau. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. In 2019, 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau mocked and told Debbie Stevens, who was trapped in her car and drowning from floodwaters, to "shut up.". 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. 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. 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. Luke Kenton For Dailymail.com Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she treated a drowning woman in her final moments could haunt her for the rest of her life. 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. "I do think that that played a big role in her death," Diane said. 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". 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. Stevens eventually drowned. To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. 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. For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do. 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. 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." King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. The investigation was. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. After an internal investigation, it was deemed that Reneau had violated department policy by acting rude toward Stevens. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. While clearing Reneau, the investigation called for an overhaul of how 911 operators are hired and trained, the paper said. Did OJ Simpson's Son Jason Kill Nicole Brown & Ron Goldman? She says the vehicle is now moving in the water'. Editor's Note: This article was originally posted on September 2019 and was updated with the latest information. This petition starter stood up and took action. The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, repeatedly told a sobbing Ms. Stevens to calm down. However, she was once 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. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department 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. Feel like youre always looking at a screen? I have worked at the FSPD for almost 5 yrs now and truly care about my job and the people I talk to on a daily basis, Reneau says. 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. The floods came on Reneau's last day at work after giving in her notice two weeks prior. Emily Crane For Dailymail.com 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. A date has not been set for a memorial service for Stevens. When do the clocks change in 2023? Furious motorist is fined 650 after council worker paints disabled bay around his parked car. FORT SMITH, Ark. Meanwhile, the department's investigation into the matter is ongoing. Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped as floodwaters [] The dispatcher then apologized to her while laughing, she stated. The call happened on Reneau's final shift. Reneau had turned in her. 'I have worked at the FSPD for almost 5 yrs now and truly care about my job and the people I talk to on a daily basis', Reneau says. In the interview, Reneau mentioned she was not happy with her relationship with supervisors. Bettering work conditions - 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. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she. Here's what to do if it happens. Here's what we know about Donna Reneau, the 911 call, and the fallout of her actions. "How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and I think we all agree with that. Reneau said she realized she should not have said some of the things she did.. Reneau, who had been a dispatcher . (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. vtskeersttning resorb. 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. 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. The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Donna Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Debra Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help. 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. accusations that she mishandled a call with a drowning woman, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Forget turnipsnow eat SQUIRREL! ", The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help and for telling her this will teach you next time dont drive in the water., Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. "We all heard that. Stressful start to National Offer Day? She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". 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. 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. Hopefully, the changes they make to their policies get them back in the good graces of the people. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. . In the 911 recording . Phase De La Lune sotrisme, 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. Rude toward Stevens caught by a flash flood inside her car World Productions Inc. 2023 inside Inc.. 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