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. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. 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. Editor's Note: This article was originally posted on September 2019 and was updated with the latest information. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. 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 Stevens called, the Fort Smith Police Department staff was stretched thin. 11 Strict Rules That Elon Musk Makes His Girlfriends & Wives Follow, Justin Bieber Suspected As The Father Of Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign (Instead Of Scott Disick), Why Kate Moss Was 'Scared' & 'Couldn't Get Out Of Bed For Weeks' After Working With Mark Wahlberg. https://t.co/FqdZG2W6zZ pic.twitter.com/nlO9WLILcP, FOX 32 News (@fox32news) August 31, 2019. 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. 5 Debra's last moments were captured in a chilling 22-minute phone call Credit: Facebook Would love your thoughts, please comment. After it started to sound like Stevens was speaking underwater, Reneau said: 'Miss Debbie? 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." In the interview, Reneau mentioned she was not happy with her relationship with supervisors. Reneau had submitted her resignation earlier in August and was on her last shift when Stevenss call came in. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. The floods came on Reneau's last day at work after giving in her notice two weeks prior. Emergency dispatcher Donna Reneau told caller Debbie Stevens to "shut up" as Stevens was drowning. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. Is there maybe things we need to look at in our response? 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. and She regretted telling her she was not going to die most of all, but she also regretted not being more kind and understanding, the report stated. Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. Reneau: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water." Stevens: "Couldn't see it ma'am. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. 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. 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. See additional information. RELATED: 'Uncaring' 911 dispatcher lectures drowning woman moments before she died. 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 911 dispatcher told a drowning woman to "shut up" in the moments before she died on August 24, reports said. An internal investigation by the Fort Smith police department found that Donna Reneau performed her duties as required, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. The investigation was. FORT SMITH, Ark. Bettering work conditions Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. 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. 'It's a tragic thing, I understand that. Stevens can be heard asking the dispatcher at one point in the call. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna!. 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. 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. "I can't swim! This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it.. When asked what would better work conditions at the police department Reneau said she wanted to answer with a quote. 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. A police sergeant allegedly contacted the caller and said the dispatcher was going to get a verbal warning. 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'. So calm down'. Stevens called 911 before her death, and Reneau answered her call. When asked, "What did you like most about your job?" (Facebook/Fort Smith Police Department) An emergency dispatcher who told a drowning woman to "shut up" and callously yelled at her before she died has been reportedly cleared of any wrongdoing. She begged for the dispatcher to send help and said she was scared. En'Joy" donna reneau dispatcher apology Here's what to do if it happens. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. So calm down.'. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks notice, is under fire for her "uncaring" response. Emily Crane For Dailymail.com Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge, the post reads. 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. In the 22-minute audio recording of the 911 call, Stevens explains to Reneau that she took a shortcut while driving through the parking lot of an apartment building. A frantic Debbie Stevens sobbed as she was on the phone with an operator in Arkansas while she was trapped in a flash flood on the morning of Aug. 24. 17 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from 'donnareneau' hashtag But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. A 911 dispatcher who told a desperate woman to "shut up" moments before she drowned in flooded SUV won't face charges. 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 Fort Smith police dispatcher who a caller overheard screaming derogatory swear words has been fired. "The 911 call came in at 4:38 a.m. and was answered by Donna Reneau, who had previously turned in her two . ', 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. The dispatcher told her to "shut up" & "Well, this will teach you. 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. I CANT BREATHE!, Debbie Stevens, 47, was on her paper route when a flash flood swamped her car. Girl, 2, looks star-struck as she presents Kate with a gift of Daffodils for St David's Mike Tindall's latest money-making scheme! Stevens had been delivering. Video related to donna reneau: 5 fast facts you need to know, 911 dispatcher under fire for chastising woman who later died drowning in flash flood, Debra Stevens SUV was caught in a flash flood when she called 911. The water just didn't appear', Reneau said. The comments below have not been moderated. She intentional inflicted pain on another human being. Newly released 911 audio reveals the final moments of an Arkansas newspaper delivery woman as she drowned in her car. - 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. You had to go right over it, she said. Police acknowledged the 911 call sounded 'calloused and uncaring at times' but insisted that 'sincere efforts' were made to try and located Stevens. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Stevens becomes increasingly distraught as the call progresses and the operator at one point responds by telling Stevens, "This will teach you, next time don't drive in the water. Operator Donna Reneau took that call at 4:38am. Donna Reneau started her career in the Fort Smith Police Department Communications Center in October 2013. Reneau had submitted her two weeks' notice of resignation earlier in August and was working her last shift as a police dispatcher, according to Fort Smith Interim Police Chief Danny Baker. The Fort Smith Police Department and Fire Department's investigation likely means former Fort Smith dispatcher Donna Reneau will not face charges. 4.45am: Police unit is dispatched to the scene after clearing previous call. 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? 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. '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. In December 2019, the police released their internal review on Reneau. Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. Did they find her? 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. 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. 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 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. Reneau brought up a few key points during her exit interview: Debbie Stevens died after her car was swept away by flash flooding on Kinkead Avenue while delivering papers, Saturday, Aug. 24. I dont want to die, she said. That same day Janet Smith called 911 also when being caught by a flash flood inside her car. I don't know how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it. Scotland's Quest For The Missing Remains Of Lilias Adie, An Accused Witch Who Killed Herself, The True Story Of Hattori Hanz: From 16th-Century Japan To Kill Bill, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Published August 31, 2019. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. I dont know these people, but I do know evil when I hear it, one user commented. Debra Stevens did die. In 2019, 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau mocked and told Debbie Stevens, who was trapped in her car and drowning from floodwaters, to "shut up.". "I've never had anything happen like this before. Reneau had resigned from the department prior to this incident, . Mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas Mr. George B. McGill, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 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. Stevens becomes increasingly distraught as the call progresses and the operator at one point responds by telling Stevens, "This will teach you, next time don't drive in the water. By: News 9. Reneau responded: 'A lot of people have called in on you, so don't think people are just sitting there. Stevens eventually drowned. 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. Feel like youre always looking at a screen? and At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. 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. . 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. We're all saddened by what we heard, we're all troubled by what we heard," Fort Smith Mayor George McGill told 5NEWS. ", 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. DONNA RENEAU. Reneau had given her notice two weeks earlier. ", 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. 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. "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. 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. 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. The first crews arrived on the scene about ten minutes later but had difficulty identifying Stevens exact location due to the high waters. Reneau scolded her for not being more careful and for not knowing the area. FORT SMITH, Ark. 'You're not going to die. "We'll get you help and get you out of there." RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. 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. 'You're not going to die. 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