We are looking at what we can do to increase training for our dispatchers, swift water rescues, and other things.. Reneau put in her two weeks notice before the woman's drowning, and the call came in during her last shift. Reneau's interactions with Stevens made national news. '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. Police acknowledged the 911 call sounded 'calloused and uncaring at times' but insisted that 'sincere efforts' were made to try and located Stevens. Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water," Reneau said. There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. Thanks for contacting us. Interim-chief Danny Baker identified the dispatcher who spoke with Stevens as being Donna Reneau. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. She also stated that she liked the family-oriented atmosphere. Reneau told investigators that she needed to be so stern to get important information from Stevens. and Reneau was never charged, and on Friday, the Fort Smith Police Department announced that she had been cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal probe, the paper said. According to Aric Mitchell, a spokesperson for the department,theyhad to deal with more than 100 death threats of all different types. RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. 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. Reneau: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water." Stevens: "Couldn't see it ma'am. (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. 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. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. I'm horribly sorry that it wasn't possible.'. . 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. "How Mrs. Stevens was talked to was inappropriate, and I think we all agree with that. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. ", RELATED:Awful New Details Revealed About The Teen Who Died After Being Crushed In A Parked Minivan Despite Calling 911 Twice. 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. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. This story was reported from Cincinnati. 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. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. The review concluded that she had done her jobas required. 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. "I've never had anything happen like this before. Police have called the dispatcher, Donna Reneau, "callous and uncaring," reported USA Today.. Stevens called at around 4:30 a.m. and said that she was in an emergency situation. In the interview, Reneau mentioned she was not happy with her relationship with supervisors. "I do think that that played a big role in her death," Diane said. Donna Reneau's reply was chilling: "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water." Minutes later, with the police still unable to locate the vehicle in the 4:00am darkness and the waste-deep flood, and with 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau still seemingly unaware of the urgency of the situation, the cell connection was lost. 4.38am: 911 call received. 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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. 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. "I can't swim! Reneau had turned in her. The comments below have not been moderated. An external investigation by an outside agency is also taking place. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Donna Reneau, who had resigned and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher, was the person to answer Stevens' call at 4.38am . She was not criminally charged in the death of 47-year-old Debra Stevens'. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so.". 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. Tisane Hibiscus Mlisse Feuille De Mrier Bienfait, By Rebecca Jane Stokes Written on May 24, 2020. She says the vehicle is now moving in the water. Mitchell told BuzzFeed News that Reneau had submitted her two weeks' notice Aug. 9. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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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. They said the 911 operator had dispatched Fort Smith Fire and Police units to help her but it made it difficult because she couldn't describe her exact location. Here's what we know about Donna Reneau, the 911 call, and the fallout of her actions. ", "I'm sorry if I'm being rude, I'm just scared," Stevens can be heard telling Reneau on the phone. Flamingos form CLIQUES with like-minded pals, study finds. (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. Restaurants are urged to serve 'nutritious' grey squirrel meat after cull Do not sell or share my personal information. Stevens eventually asked the dispatcher to pray with her while she waited for first responders to arrive and Reneau replied: 'You go ahead and start the prayer'. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? See additional information. Stevens first called Diane when she became trapped. To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working . 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. So calm down'. 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. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. called 911 on his parents for making him eat a salad. 4.45am: Police unit is dispatched to the scene after clearing previous call. When asked why she was leaving her position at the police department, Reneau said she wanted to return to school. 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. Will you do the same? 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do. At one point, Stevens even apologized for 'being rude' to the dispatcher due to her constant pleas for help. 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. 'You're not going to die. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 5NEW Why Fort Smith Dispatcher Resigned; City Leaders Weigh In on Shocking 911 Call, A local Black barbershop honors the community, Arkansas Governor Sanders signs executive order aiming to change foster care, More clouds Wednesday with storms by Thursday, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas, A lot of promises were broken to the third shift, She wanted to bring up the idea of possibly having a system where a dispatcher can have a "distress break" after they take a high-stress call, She wanted to bring up on her most recent incident, she felt really good that Chief Baker personally reached out to her to check on her after the traumatic incident. 'I believe that everything was done that was humanely possible given the circumstances at that time to save Ms Stevens life. 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. "The 911 call came in at 4:38 a.m. and was answered by Donna Reneau, who had previously turned in her two . Mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. McGill, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Reneau had resigned from the department prior to this incident, . She had submitted her two-weeks' notice in early August. Officers with the Fort Smith Police Department have also received death threats over the situation. She intentional inflicted pain on another human being. Did they find her? The. While Reneau's boss agreed that the way she spoke to Stevenswasn't ideal, he did admit that it wasn't so bad that he would ever have considered firing a dispatcher for it. Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. 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donna reneau dispatcher apology