"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. U.S. FOX News. They just weren't able to get to her on time,' Mitchell said. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. According to a statement from the Fort Smith Police Department, the dispatcher, identified as Donna Reneau by local media, was working her last shift as a 911 dispatcher and dispatch trainer when she answered the call early Saturday morning. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. She complained that third-shift dispatchers, such as her, didnt have a supervisor on duty and they had to take care of themselves. 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. 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. 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. 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. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working . "She said, 'Please come help me, pull me out of the water, I'm stranded and I don't want to die today. Stevens called 911 . ", RELATED:Awful New Details Revealed About The Teen Who Died After Being Crushed In A Parked Minivan Despite Calling 911 Twice. (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. 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. Dispatcher begins gathering information. According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. 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. Tisane Hibiscus Mlisse Feuille De Mrier Bienfait, 4:01 pm. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. Mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. McGill, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Reneau responded. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Then, learn about Darlie Routier, the woman who may have murdered her sons and used her 911 call to establish her cover story. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. '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. Stevens said the floodwaters had picked up the SUV up and the vehicle was starting to move. Police said the 911 operator had dispatched Fort Smith Fire and Police units to help Stevens but it made it difficult because she couldn't describe her exact location. 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. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. 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. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. It is so unfortunate that her entire career willbe defined by this single incident. The Fort Smith Police Department are sweeping this under the table and refusing to take any criminal action against their employee who failed to do her job and caused a death as a result. '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. The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Donna Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Debra Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help. 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. You had to go right over it, she said. "I can't swim! 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 . She worked in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a 911 dispatcher. She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". For five years, she worked as a 911 dispatcher and she was so good at her job that she was actually certified to help other people, too. The 911 call was in EXCESS of 20 minutes. 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! A former Arkansas 911 dispatcher was cleared of wrongdoing following accusations that she mishandled a call with a drowning woman and told her to "shut up" just moments before she died. . I'm going to drown!" This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. According to a news release from the Fort . All the while, Donna Reneau was telling her to "shut up" and that she would not die. Unfortunately, what she's going to be remembered for more than all the calls where she maybe actually helped people is one of the last calls of her career where she berated a drowning woman named Debra Stevens who called 911 for help after getting caught up in a flash flood. 5.00am: 911 call is disconnected between caller and dispatch. I don't know why you're freaking out. She says the vehicle is now moving in the water. The water just didn't appear,' Reneau said. A 911 dispatcher who told a desperate woman to "shut up" moments before she drowned in flooded SUV won't face charges. She was later found dead. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car. 'You're not going to die. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! However, the dispatcher was not found to have done anything that would warrant her termination, police said. . 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview Donna Reneau had with the Fort Smith Police Department four days after the incident. Please help me. In December 2019, the police released their internal review on Reneau. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as aFort Smith Police Department dispatcher. 'I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that time to save Ms Stevens life. . (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. 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? "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. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. No criminal investigation will happen. Hopefully, the changes they make to their policies get them back in the good graces of the people. A former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation. Bettering work conditions 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. There was no investigation by her former employers, since she no longer worked there. "I do forgive her, even though it's hard," said Rebeca. FORT SMITH, Ark. Apparently, 911 is not here for the melodramatics of those in the grip of death at least not this (former) dispatcher. 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. Flamingos form CLIQUES with like-minded pals, study finds. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! Reneau had worked for the Fort Smith Police Department for five years, serving as a certified trainer for new employees, and was named fire dispatcher of the year in February, according to. 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. 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. ", 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. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. He needs to be fired. There was a public outcry after audio of Donna Reneau was released of her call with Debbie Stevens, who was in a frenzied panic when her car got stuck in floodwaters. Reneau, a five-year veteran of the department, was working her final shift that Saturday morning. 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. According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, repeatedly told a sobbing Ms. Stevens to calm down. Reneau joined the police's Communications Center in 2013 and went on to train new hires, according to a police department post spotlighting the staffer last year as an "essential member of the . She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. Reneau: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water." Stevens: "Couldn't see it ma'am. She begged for the dispatcher to send help and said she was scared. 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. 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. 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. Hopefully through that, there will be enhanced training.. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. 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. She also said another reason for her leaving was she felt like there was no way to "move up" within the department. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. '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. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. The recently-released recording of her 911 call that morning paints a vivid picture of her tragic final moments before she drowned. Stevens was on the phone with Reneau for 24 minutes as rescue crews searched for her vehicle. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car, Reneau could be heard telling the first responders searching for her: 'I'm on the phone with her now and she is legit freaking out. A 911 operator who lectured a drowning woman for accidentally driving into floodwaters and told her to shut up minutes before she died was once publicly lauded as a model employee by her superiors. FORT SMITH, Ark. The dispatcher hung up. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and the call came in during her last shift. Her car had been swept . 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. Stevens repeatedly apologized to the dispatcher, saying she didn't even see the water before she drove into it and that she had never done anything like this before. Quoted as part of the post, Reneau brags about how much she values the work that she does and cares about those in need who call in for help. Restaurants are urged to serve 'nutritious' grey squirrel meat after cull Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. 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. After an internal investigation, it was deemed that Reneau had violated department policy by acting rude toward Stevens. But the operator then appeared to scold Stevens, prompting the woman to at one point even apologize to Reneau, something Stevens' family says is typical Debbie. Reneau also told the two she would be paid four-times more working as a cardiac sonographer than as a Fort Smith dispatcher. Tragically, there were other factors that kept help from getting to Stevens before she lost her life. By Luke Kenton and Emily Crane For Dailymail.com, Published: 16:27 GMT, 31 August 2019 | Updated: 06:41 GMT, 23 December 2019. 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. 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". 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. Furious motorist is fined 650 after council worker paints disabled bay around his parked car. "Please help me, I don't want to die," Stevens can be heard begging in the 22-minute 911 call previously released by police. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. Stevens asked Reneau if the police would take her home after she was rescued so she could care for her dogs. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. The water just didn't appear', Reneau said. "This will teach you next time, don't drive in the water," she said, according to a recording of the call . Here's what we know about Donna Reneau, the 911 call, and the fallout of her actions. However, an investigation into our policies, our responses, our dispatch center, Ive talked to the fire chief. Reneau faced no criminal charges in Stevens death. So calm down'. 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. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. Authorities said that when they did eventually locate her, rising waters made an immediate rescue impossible. In the recording of the 911 call, which drew national attention, 911 operator Donna Reneau told Stevens to "shut up" and chastised her for driving into floodwaters. But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. - 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. 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. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. This story was reported from Cincinnati. 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. She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. An external investigation by an outside agency is also taking place. "The 911 call came in at 4:38 a.m. and was answered by Donna Reneau, who had previously turned in her two . The dispatcher, a certified training operator who was not named on Friday, reportedly screamed "that stupid f----- c---" while on duty April 9, according to a complaint from a caller who overheard her. 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. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. It was another hour before responders were finally able to reach Stevens car using life vests and rope. She's under water now.'. Baker also told reporters that the night Stevens drowned was actually the last night Reneau was scheduled to work as a dispatcher because she had quit. 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. Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after previously resigning, answered Stevens call for help and at times she can be heard yelling at her before she drowns. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. "I don't know why you are freaking out. (P. "Will you pray with me?" 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? I dont think it would have risen to the level of terminating someone. I'm going to drown! 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. On August 24, Stevens called 911 at 4:38 a.m. and told Reneau shed been delivering newspapers for the Southwest Times Record when a flash flood washed her SUV off the road. A . The. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a . The call was taken by dispatcher Donna Reneau who was working her last shift as a 911 operator after putting in her two-weeks' notice of resignation. Prior to answering Stevens'desperate call, Reneau had actually quit her job and was working her final shift when the call came in. As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . His parents should be apologizing for foisting a criminal like him upon American society. Stevens, 47, drowned as she begged Reneau to send someone to rescue her. 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