4.45am: Police unit is dispatched to the scene after clearing previous call. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. A 911 dispatcher told a drowning woman to "shut up" in the moments before she died on August 24, reports 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. As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. She was later found dead. An internal investigation by the Fort Smith police department found that Donna Reneau performed her duties as required, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Reneau responded. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. ", "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water," Reneau responds. The water just didn't appear', Reneau said. 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. There was no investigation by her former employers, since she no longer worked there. FORT SMITH, Ark. "She was brokenhearted.". Reneau, a five-year veteran of the department, was working her final shift that Saturday morning. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? I'm scared! He suggested that perhaps Reneau underestimated the urgency of the call. 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. "I do think that that played a big role in her death," Diane said. 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. There were nine officers and four 911 dispatchers on duty at the time. They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. Now, herfamily is speaking out, telling Inside Edition they arefurious at the handling of her emergency. 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. 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. Debbie Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. Do you really care about your brand-new phone? Reneau asked, Youre over there crying for your life. Then, when Stevens says that she is afraid that her car will explode because she sees smoke, Reneau responds, How? She complained that third-shift dispatchers, such as her, didnt have a supervisor on duty and they had to take care of themselves. Next time don't drive in the water." Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. The Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a woman crying on the phone before she drowned will not face criminal charges, an internal investigation ruled. Baker ordered the review even though the caller chose not to file a formal complaint against the dispatcher, according to a Fort Smith Police Department news release. 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." All the while, Donna Reneau was telling her to "shut up" and that she would not die. A woman in Arkansas drowned in floodwaters shortly after getting on the phone with an emergency dispatcher who scolded her for driving during the storm. Former 911 operator Donna Reneau, who sparked widespread outrage in August for chastising Debra Stevens in her dying moments, still did her job in all of the ways that substantively mattered, officials said in a newly released internal review. Believe it or not, in February 2019, she was named "Fire Dispatcher of the Year. The comments below have not been moderated, By She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. 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. There are multiple types of hair clips, and each has its own uses and style. Hopefully through that, there will be enhanced training.. In fact, the evidence shows that while Operator Reneau spoke rudely to Mrs. Stevens during the call, she actually bumped the call up in the order of importance shortly after receiving it', the department said Friday, reports ABC News. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working . 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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. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna!. I'm gonna drown,'" Diane recalled. 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. 4.54am: Police/fire report difficulty locating vehicle. The face of #EVIL #donnareneau. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. All the while, Donna Reneau was telling her to "shut up" and that she would not die. She makes me sick. Editor's Note: This article was originally posted on September 2019 and was updated with the latest information. He said at the time that the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. 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. Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. The. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. 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. Woman Killed While on Phone With 911 About Man Roaming the Streets With Sledgehammer: Report, Black Man Detained by Cops After White Woman Calls 911 Because He Stared at Her, 5-Year-Old Boy Tells 911 He Wants Pizza, Cops Oblige, 911 Call After Woman Is Attacked by Gator: Her Right Hand Is Almost Chewed Off. '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 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. Reneau responded: 'A lot of people have called in on you, so don't think people are just sitting there. 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. The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks earlier according to the Fort Smith Police Department, replied flippantly telling her. Reneau had turned in her. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. When we are unsuccessful, it hurts.". He said the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. Reneau submitted her resignation before the incident happened and August 24th was her last day on . 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? To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. vtskeersttning resorb. '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. 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. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In December 2019, the police released their internal review on Reneau. 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. 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. (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 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. So now he is demanding an apology. ", Reneau also tells her at another point, "You're gonna have to shut up, OK?". 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'. A . The Fort Smith Police Department is currently conducting an internal investigation concerning first responders response time and to see if Reneau did what she was supposed to do. Thanks for contacting us. Websites CRASH as hundreds of thousands of families find out today Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? Flamingos form CLIQUES with like-minded pals, study finds. Stevens, 47, had. I don't know why you're freaking out. Reneau had given her notice two weeks earlier. By: News 9. Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks . Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. We've received your submission. 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. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car. She says the vehicle is now moving in the water'. 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. ', Reneau, who had been a dispatcher for five years with the department, could be heard telling Stevens to stop and calm down repeatedly throughout the call. "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. 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 . and Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. (P. "Will you pray with me?" Did they find her? 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. At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Published August 31, 2019. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and. Acting Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker said Donna Reneau was working her final shift when Debra Stevens died. ', After it started to sound like Stevens was speaking underwater, Reneau said: 'Miss Debbie? Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com Female carer who bit off part of a pub landlady's ear during vicious bar brawl is jailed for 14 months. Furious motorist is fined 650 after council worker paints disabled bay around his parked car. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. She says the vehicle is now moving in the water. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Tue, Jan 24, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 She told Baker and Solis she was accepted into the cardiovascular Technology program at Arkansas Tech University. 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. 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. 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. - 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. We call on Fort Smith Police Department and Fort Smith city officials to investigate and prosecute Donna Reneau for these crimes that led to this woman's death in failing to do her job. 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 floods came on Reneau's last day at work after giving in her notice two weeks prior. When the team did arrive to save her, the flooding delayed their attempts to get to her:When first responders were finally able to reach Mrs. Stevens and extract her from the vehicle, she had tragically succumbed to drowning., Wait. did this guy Danny Baker just say that #Donnareneau has had to endure things as a dispatcher that no one should have to? Absolutely,' he said. Stevens eventually drowned. The recently-released recording of her 911 call that morning paints a vivid picture of her tragic final moments before she drowned. Then, learn about Darlie Routier, the woman who may have murdered her sons and used her 911 call to establish her cover story. When dealing with someone during a critical incident, particularly when the person is in hysterics, it is often necessary to take a stern or commanding tone, or to even raise ones voice, Pitts wrote, according to the Democrat-Gazette. Story continues below. 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. 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. "How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and I think we all agree with that. 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'. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. Congratulations to Donna Reneau for being selected as the Fire Dispatcher of the Year! 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. Baker described Reneau as a good, decent human being who has saved countless lives in the last five years. ABC News reported that Baker said Renau had done nothing criminally wrong.. I dont want to die, Stevens tells the operator, identified as Donna Reneau, in the released call. ", RELATED:Awful New Details Revealed About The Teen Who Died After Being Crushed In A Parked Minivan Despite Calling 911 Twice. ", "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, I'm just scared," Stevens can be heard telling Reneau on the phone. 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. (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. Here's what we know about Donna Reneau, the 911 call, and the fallout of her actions. An external investigation by an outside agency is also taking place. 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. Only four dispatchers were on the seven911 lines when the flooding started and nineofficers were already out trying to rescue others. 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. A woman in Arkansas drowned in floodwaters shortly after getting on the phone with an emergency dispatcher who scolded her for driving during the storm. 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 . 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