Sleepy 911 Operator Takes A Snooze During Call
Employee On Vacation As Police Investigate Circumstances
UPDATED: 3:31 pm EDT August 5,
2004
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A call to 911 is usually a relief that help is on the way -- but not in this case.An Anne Arundel County, Md., 911 operator is under investigation for apparently falling asleep last week during an emergency.
WBAL-TV in Baltimore obtained a copy of the emergency call Wednesday morning.On July 29, at around 2:40 a.m., Patricia Berg found herself startled awake -- she thought someone was breaking into her home. But as she described the emergency, the 911 operator fell asleep to the point of snoring.Caller: Ah, I was woken up ... (inaudible) ... You know when someone runs your hand across a pane of glass, how it makes that noise? The only place I can think of is my sliding glass door, and I woke up to check it out. I didn't see anything.Operator: (Snoring) The 911 operator had fallen asleep. The snoring went on for 1 minute and 48 seconds before Berg regained his attention. Caller: Hello?Operator: Yes, Hello?Caller: I was just wondering if you were still there.Operator: Yes ... (inaudible) What's the problem?Caller: I already told you. You don't remember me letting you know what is wrong?Berg complained to the 911 supervisor.Supervisor: Hello, this is PCO Suitar, can I help you?Caller: I called, and he took the information. I told him what happened and then he was silent and then I heard (Berg simulated snoring sounds).The operator, an employee since 1993, is on a permanent midnight shift. No disciplinary action has been taken and the operator is now on vacation -- and apparently didn't say much before he left. "We are talking to him, we are going to continue to talk to him. Was there a medical reason why he fell asleep? We don't know," Anne Arundel County police spokesman Lt. Joe Jordan said.Police are reviewing procedures, the work history of the operator and his training."Well, I'm not sure that you can train someone to stay awake. Again, we have to find out exactly why that occurred," Jordan said.Anne Arundel County police say they are embarrassed by what happened. A number of things could happen depending on the outcome of the investigation, the operator may face no disciplinary action, he could get a letter of reprimand or he could be suspended or even fired.
Slideshow: 911 Operator's Snores Caught On Tape
| Video |
Police Embarrassed After 911 Operator Falls AsleepSlideshow: 911 Operator's Snores Caught On Tape Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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