Thought I’d mash two current stories together. I’ll start with George Zimmerman because both the evidence and the lies are VERY useful for the 2nd story. Let’s read part of the transcript:
Zimmerman: Yeah. You go in straight through the entrance and then you would go left. You go straight in, don’t turn and make a left.
He’s running.
911 dispatcher: He’s running? Which way is he running?
Zimmerman: Down toward the other entrance of the neighborhood.
911 dispatcher: OK, which entrance is that he’s headed towards?
Zimmerman: The back entrance. F***ing (unintelligible)
911 dispatcher: Are you following him?
Zimmerman: Yeah.911 dispatcher: OK. We don’t need you to do that.
Zimmerman: OK.
911 dispatcher: Alright, sir, what is your name?
Zimmerman: George. He ran.
First up this above line has been twisted to “George Zimmerman tracked down Trayvon and attacked him against direct orders from the Police!” 100% bullshit. Martin allegedly ran away, Zimmerman obviously was simply walking, and while he was talking with 911 dispach, and not the Police, their “Order” of “OK. We don’t need you to do that.” was about as lackluster an “Order” as you can get. Further he both verbally complies, and you can her he’s no long walking, and certainly if he took off running it would have to be several minuets later as he begins talking about contact information with dispatch.
Still let’s compare this view that 911 is the word of god that needs to be followed, with this story.
Sam Lucas: “Yes, this is Sam Lucas we live up in the foothills and we just got home and it looks like there’s a fire at the foot of Cathedral Spires, there was-”
Dispatch: “Yes, that is a controlled burn. The [Colorado State] Forest Service is out there on scene.”
Sam Lucas: “You know we’ve got 79 mile per hour winds up here and they’ve got controlled burns?”
Dispatch: “Yes.”
Sam Lucas: “Oh, wonderful. Thank you.”
Dispatch: “Uh-huh, bye.” …..Sam and his wife, Linda Moaneti Lucas, were among the three people killed in the fire.
Now I’m in NO way going to disparage 911 dispatchers. They are all heros, because they are there to take your call when you most need them. Even if you don’t pay your phone bill and your service gets shut off you can still call THESE people! But we must make note that these people are 100% blind. They sit in an office and they can only “see” what people calling in are seeing, and what police and news media are reporting. This dispatcher likely wasn’t negligent in pointing out that the smoke was from the “Controlled burn” as they hadn’t been informed that the “Controlled burn” had turned into the monster that is a wild fire.
Still in this case he followed the “Orders” of the dispatcher and he and his wife were killed.
In the gun control world I point out that there is NOBODY who is truly Anti-gun. Pro-gun people like to keep and bear arms, anti-gun people don’t like guns…but if trouble comes their way 911 becomes “Dial-A-Gun” where police will come and bring their guns, and use them if needed. (tho rarely as its generally too late by then)
You can only trust yourself for your own well-being. Others can and will help, but if you depend on them exclusively it very will may be the last thing you do!
Be safe out there!
Part of the problem nowadays is that the 911 system is meant to be “Universal,” but you lose some expertise. Back in the Dawn of Time, before 911, if you had a Problem, you’d Dial “0” for the Operator, and you would be sent to the appropriate agency and talk to them. So if you needed the Police, you’d get a Police person. Same with the Fire Dept, etc. Nowadays, depending on the system, you get a Dispatcher who has to pick and choose from various menus, and then try to solve your problem. So the person on the end of the line may never been through the Police Academy, handled a Fire Hose, etc. Plus, you get all those IDIOTS who use 911 to complain about how Mickey D’s screwed up their order, or want a ride home from the Cops because they’re too drunk to drive, etc. Now some systems will route your call over to various Depts, but there’s no uniformity across the Country. And with Budget cutbacks, it probably won’t get any better.
Besides, it’s better to spend Public Safety Money making sure the TSA has fresh, hot Coffee to throw at Pilots, right?
To the author of Weer’d Beard,
I wanted to express how much I enjoyed your blog post titled “911 and You”, posted today. Your analysis of the actual 911 conversation with George Zimmerman vs. the accused transcript really highlighted how absolutely distorted this case has been in part due by the media. Your emphasis on negligence is key.
Just like 911 dispatchers are humans, so are the journalists behind NBC who doctored the transcript to make it appear that George Zimmerman offered up Trayvon Martin’s race in attempt to portray him as a racist. These are all matters of perception with decisions (hopefully) made out of the best personal judgment. It is the the prosecutors, lawyers and law system that should be the ultimate deciding opinion on Zimmerman and the aforementioned should not be persuaded by the alarming public opinion and outcry (that is directly fueled by the media).
This story is nothing short of a tragedy, but I think it is important to keep in mind there is more that meets the story than what actually meets the eyes of the reporters and then the readers. I believe the elimination of the grand jury in the case could help stomp out any media bias the jurors could have inherited unintentionally.
I wanted to share with you a video about the Martin/Zimmerman case that I think you will find relevant and supplemental to your coverage. I hope you enjoy it, as I included the link below.
“No Grand Jury in Trayvon Martin Case”
http://www.newsy.com/videos/no-grand-jury-in-trayvon-martin-case
The clip does a great job of concisely sourcing and compiling news reports to emphasize the scope and context the content being reported on. Newsy synthesizes and analyzes news into neutral comprehensive video clips showing a variety of opinions on the story.
I hope you will embed this video into your blog and maybe in the future, we could swap blogroll links and widgets.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to working with you in the future,
Lyndsey Garza
Community for Newsy
Twitter: @newsyvideos
http://www.facebook.com/newsyvideos
You missed another recent incident involving dispatchers too.
Bottom line is you do not have to do anything a dispatcher says, you are the eyes on the scene and have a better ability to judge what is best for your safety and well being. If you think something is stupid or unsafe, don’t do it just because the dispatcher tells you to.
Oh man, I did! Yikes!
Yeah if I’m ever in a scary situation where my life is in danger I’m calling 911 and telling dispatchers where the safe place I’m hiding out at for questions, and will only return to the scene of the crime with armed backup.
Even if you shoot and kill mookie and he’s DRT there’s nothing that protects you from Mookie’s grief-striken buddies from laying an ambush for you.
I’m a good shot, but I’m not an uber-Ninja!
Time to work on those Uber Ninja skills.
If you listen to enough 911 calls, you will hear a repeated order to the victim to disarm if they have a firearm, even before law enforcement arrives. I’m sorry, but sometimes my life is more important than following an order. I know they probably don’t want me armed when the police arrive, but I’ve heard that order given too often too early in the situation.