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. 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview Donna Reneau had with the Fort Smith Police Department four days after the incident. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. Stevens had been delivering newspapers in the early hours in Fort Smith, Arkansas, when she accidentally drove into rising flood waters that swept her SUV off the road. When we are unsuccessful, it hurts.". 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. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher. He said the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. Reneau: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water." Stevens: "Couldn't see it ma'am. Next time don't drive in the water." 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau.
Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. All Rights Reserved. 08:10 GMT 23 Dec 2019. Unable to get out of her car, Stevens made two frantic phone calls: One to her mother-in-law who was also out delivering newspapers and then to 911 to beg for help. Reneau responded. 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. She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. In December 2019, the police released their internal review on Reneau. ", 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. 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. Bodycam video released by the Fort Smith Police Department shows first responders searching for Stevens' car when she called 911 to say she was trapped in flood waters, 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. 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. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a . called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. En'Joy" donna reneau dispatcher apology 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. 2023 FOX Television Stations, in the 22-minute 911 call previously released by police, 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died, President Biden visits Virginia to tout economic achievements, It's a Philly thing: Police will grease poles ahead of Eagles-49ers NFC Championship game, Bethesda-Chevy Chase area parents concerned over reports of men following children, MSG owner James Dolan threatens alcohol ban at MSG over facial recognition controversy, Drunk man mistakenly steals Tesla he confused for his own: police, Study ranks Virginia as best place to retire in America; Maryland as one of the worst, Over 200 Howard University students using GoFundMe to pay tuition, Armed serial carjackers captured behind DC restaurant's freezer after chase: police, Seniors scramble to graduate after PGCPS system error, Tanker truck carrying sewage overturns in Springfield. FORT SMITH, Ark. Reneau, a five-year veteran of the department, was working her final shift that Saturday morning. Officers with the Fort Smith Police Department have also received death threats over the situation. 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. RELATED:New Details About A Baby Who Was Accidentally Locked Inside A Hot Car And Why A 911 Operator Refused To Send Police To Help. 'I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that time to save Ms Stevens life. Stevens had been. ", RELATED:Awful New Details Revealed About The Teen Who Died After Being Crushed In A Parked Minivan Despite Calling 911 Twice. The dispatcher then apologized to her while laughing, she stated. 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. 4.54am: Police/fire report difficulty locating vehicle. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. I don't know why you're freaking out.". 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. 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The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 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. 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. At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. However, an investigation into our policies, our responses, our dispatch center, Ive talked to the fire chief. Despite the manner in which Reneau spoke to Stevens, I can find no indication of negligence in Reneaus actions in dispatching first responders, nor in the actions of those who responded to the scene, wrote Dean Pitts, the police departments deputy director of administration, who led the internal review. Phase De La Lune sotrisme, Fort Smith dispatcher Donna Reneau sparked outrage in August after audio was released of her callous response to Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped in her car by floodwaters that eventually. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. FORT SMITH, Ark. 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. Luke Kenton For Dailymail.com
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 . This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it.. Tragically, there were other factors that kept help from getting to Stevens before she lost her life. 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. pic.twitter.com/gduzYnLada, Susan Morris (@SLMH93) August 30, 2019. '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. Reneau responded. - 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. 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. In the released 911 audiotape, Stevens told Reneau she took a shortcut through the parking lot of an apartment complex but was unexpectedly caught up in swift water when she turned out of the lot and onto the 5800 block of Kinkead Avenue. Forget turnipsnow eat SQUIRREL! ", "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, I'm just scared," Stevens can be heard telling Reneau on the phone. We call for the investigation and criminal prosecution of Donna Reneau for her crimes of negligence and ignoring this woman's pleas for help as she drowned in her vehicle in the flood waters. 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. jorge ghosn wikipdia; rver que sa belle soeur est enceinte; era immobilier olho https://t.co/FqdZG2W6zZ pic.twitter.com/nlO9WLILcP, FOX 32 News (@fox32news) August 31, 2019. The. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. 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. 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? 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. Stevens first called Diane when she became trapped. and
Inside Edition attended Stevens' memorial service, which ended up being held in tandem with Stevens' mother's she died just three weeks after her daughter. Frantic Families Trapped in Their Homes and Running Out of Food After Massive Snowstorm Cripples California, 3 Female Bodybuilders Say League Owner's Son Sexually Exploited Them While Their Careers Hung in the Balance, Innocent Michigan Man, 71, Walks Free After 2 Decades in Prison Thanks to True Crime Coverage of His Case, Lindsay Clancy: Timeline of Events in the Case of Massachusetts Mom Accused of Killing Her 3 Children, Abby Choi Case: Police Scour Landfill Searching for Dismembered Model's Missing Torso, Hands and Arms, 2 Missing Women Found Alive by Maine Game Wardens After Being Stuck in Their Car in Freezing Temperatures. Meanwhile, the department's investigation into the matter is ongoing. Thanks for contacting us. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. Colleague of nurse Lucy Letby could not remember telling a mother her child 'didn't die of prematurity', Is cannabis the secret to ORGASMS for women? Here's what we know about Donna Reneau, the 911 call, and the fallout of her actions. Dispatcher begins gathering information. 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. Third-shift supervisors do have a supervisor, but the supervisor works first-shift and Reneau said he was not available if dispatchers needed him. I don't know how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it. 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 had resigned from the department prior to this incident, . August 30, 2019 06:45 PM A woman drowned in a flash flood in Arkansas on Saturday after calling 911 to say she was trapped in her car as water was rising around her. Stevens can be heard asking the dispatcher at one point in the call. Flamingos form CLIQUES with like-minded pals, study finds. '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. It is so unfortunate that her entire career willbe defined by this single incident. "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. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. Also exacerbating response and rescue efforts were the facts that Mrs. Stevens was having trouble describing her exact location and flooding limited the ability of first responders to reach her, said a press releaseissued by the police. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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! We've received your submission. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and the call came in during her last shift. She begged for the dispatcher to send help and said she was scared. When Stevens called, the Fort Smith Police Department staff was stretched thin. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. iPhone users claim Apple is trying to TRICK them into Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? "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 was on the phone with Reneau for 24 minutes as rescue crews searched for her vehicle. Feel like youre always looking at a screen? According to a news release from the Fort . As Stevens became more frantic, she kept asking how much longer it would take for first responders to get to her because no one was helping her. In the report, Pitts wrote Reneaus actions wouldnt have merited being fired and that its often necessary to take a stern or commanding tone, or to even raise ones voice when dealing with someone who may be hysterical in a critical incident. 4.54am: Police/fire report difficulty locating vehicle. 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 Fort Smith Police Department and Fire Department's investigation likely means former Fort Smith dispatcher Donna Reneau will not face charges. Fort Smith dispatcher Donna Reneau sparked outrage in August after audio was released of her callous response to Debbie Stevens, 47, who was trapped in her car by floodwaters that eventually killed her. 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. The dispatcher told her to "shut up" & "Well, this will teach you. 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." 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. When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. Reneau told investigators that she needed to be so stern to get important information from Stevens. Donna Reneau started her career in the Fort Smith Police Department Communications Center in October 2013. Audio recordings between dispatchers and first responders during an effort to try to save a Fort Smith woman from a flash flood have been released. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. 'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. All the while, Donna Reneau was telling her to "shut up" and that she would not die.
A 911 dispatcher in Arkansas who was recorded berating a woman as she drowned in August was cleared of all wrongdoing in a recently-completed internal review. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. "She was brokenhearted.". As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . Prince Harry 'hated woke nonsense' and 'made jokes we are no longer allowed to make' before meeting Meghan, 'We met a Princess'! There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. Please help me. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. "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. 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. 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'. Stevens: "Please help me. Reneau, who had been a dispatcher . Also received death threats over the situation shut up. `` and do not necessarily reflect the views MailOnline! 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