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Debra Stevens was running out of time. However, the 911 operator Donna Reneau didn’t appear alarmed.
“Save me, please!” When Stevens’ automobile became submerged in floodwater, she shouted as the water level rose.
The dispatcher, Reneau, said, “I don’t know why you’re screaming about it.”
Stevens wailed, “I’m going to pass away.” afterwards. “Yes, I know,” Reneau replied.
Stens passed away, but only after critics told the Fort Smith, Arkansas woman to “shut up,” scolded her for being concerned that the phone call would end, and chastised her for driving into water that the frightened flood victim insisted she had not noticed.
Donna Reneau is heard saying, “Well, this will show you,” in the phone tape that Fort Smith police released this week.
These recordings created an outrage among people over Reneau’s response to the lady.
The investigation team was launched to learn more about the incident and its involvement Donna with.
Who is Donna Reneau?
A terrible incident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, brought attention to Reneau, a former emergency dispatcher.
While working as a dispatcher, she answered a distress call from Debra Stevens, who was trapped in a flash flood and in dire need of assistance.
Reneau’s handling of the call, however, received harsh criticism.
Her history and personal life are not well known. She received the Fire Dispatcher of the Year award in February 2019 after working as a dispatcher in Fort Smith for five years. Reneau also served as a certified dispatch trainer, instructing new hires in the field.
Donna Reneau involvement in the incident
Reneau received a call from Debra Stevens on August 24, 2019, during her final shift before quitting her job. Stevens was stranded in her SUV as floodwaters surged all around her.
Her comments were cold and heartless rather than offering essential support and assurance.
She expressed displeasure as Stevens kept pleading for rescue and made comments reprimanding him for driving in the water.
During the 22-minute chat, Stevens revealed her anxiety and desperation while continuously apologizing and expressing gratitude to Reneau for being present.
Stevens panicked, but Reneau answered dismissively, urging her to “shut up”. Significant public outcry was generated by this action, which also made people wonder how well emergency dispatchers were doing their jobs.
According to a statement from the police, the city’s fire and police departments were “overrun with 911 calls from other citizens also stranded in floodwaters.”
Stevens was unable to pinpoint her precise position. A swift rescue was “impossible” when first responders discovered where she was because of floods, according to the police.
According to the police department, one officer in a life jacket was ready to wade into the river while attached to a rope, “but the speed and volume of water made this attempt futile.”
Stevens had already drowned when officials found her and started CPR – around 80 minutes after she first dialled 911 in fear.
Police Chief Danny Baker said, “All personnel who worked to save Mrs. Stevens are devastated over the outcome.” “As for us, saving lives is at the core of who we are and why we do our work.”
However, how Reneau responded to the dying woman’s appeal sparked a wave of public disapproval and mistrust.
People’s response to the incident
One man wrote on a Facebook event for an upcoming Fort Smith “Coffee with the Cops and 911 Dispatchers. After witnessing one of your operators this morning… I’m sick to my stomach.”
Another individual wrote, “Don’t call 911 in Fort Smith,” under a police post offering a Red Cross number for assistance with floodwaters. They will let you die while you beg for assistance and urge you to “shut up.”
The 911 dispatcher’s apology
The 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau, whose response to Debra Stevens’ distress call caused an uproar, has not formally apologized.
Authorities opened an internal probe into Reneau’s behavior after the incident, recognizing that her attitude sounded harsh and heartless.
Reneau may have personally expressed regret, but it is unknown if he has also apologized to Stevens’ family.
The dispatcher’s actions have drawn harsh criticism from the Fort Smith Police Department, and others have expressed their outrage on social media.
Danny Baker, the department’s police chief, acknowledged the issue’s seriousness and expressed his sincere regret for Stevens’ terrible passing.
Where is she now?
Her current whereabouts are not known with certainty. On August 23, Donna Reneau, a former 911 operator, submitted her notice of resignation from the Fort Smith Police Department.
She was part of a contentious episode where, while making a 911 call, she acted insensitively toward a drowning victim.
It is unclear where Donna Reneau is now or what she is doing following her resignation.
During an exit interview with Fort Smith Interim Police Chief Danny Baker and Officer Julio Solis, Reneau revealed that Arkansas Tech University had accepted her into the Cardiovascular Technology program.
Because of this, she could continue her education in cardiovascular technology.
She also indicated that she might be open to considering part-time employment with the agency, suggesting that she might still have contacts with or a desire to work in law enforcement.
After the incident
Following the event, the Fort Smith Police Department received over 100 death threats through letters, phone calls, and social media posts.
While threats caused concern, they did not evoke a significant level of precision or alarm.
The department plans to look into its procedures, reactions, and dispatch office in light of the occurrence.
To better prepare for circumstances like these, they are also looking into methods to increase training for dispatchers and rapid water rescues.
The incident involving Donna Reneau and Debra Stevens has raised awareness among people about the difficulties faced by emergency response teams, particularly when they encounter a high demand with limited available help.