Mistake by 911 operator could have been prevented with technology

LV writes: Technology exists that would have translated this communication in real-time, understood the information content and sent an alert out to flag that a weapon was at the site of the domestic disturbance.


Mistake by 911 operator is cited
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20090408_Mistake_by_911_operator_is_cited.html
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PITTSBURGH - When Richard Poplawski's mother called 911 to ask that her son be removed from their home in the Stanton Heights section of the city, she acknowledged that he had weapons. But that crucial piece of information never was relayed to the three Pittsburgh police officers who responded Saturday and were fatally shot.
"It should have gone out," said Robert A. Full, Allegheny County's chief of emergency services.

"There was human error," Full said Monday. "We are all living this, now, forever and ever."

Full would not identify the 911 call-taker other than to say she had been on the job for less than a year, including training. She was placed on paid administrative leave and has been offered counseling.

Former Fraternal Order of Police President James Malloy described such an omission as "heartbreaking." Officers knowing that someone involved in a domestic dispute has guns would handle the situation with more caution, he said.

Margaret Poplawski called 911 at 7:03 a.m. Saturday asking for police to remove her son from her home.

On a recording of that call, she sounded calm, even irritated, several times when she was asked to repeat basic information. She paused twice to chide her son in the background, saying, "Are you moving or what? Or the police gotta come?"

Poplawski: I'm requesting that he gets out. He came in last night when I was gone. . . . He stays, he comes and goes, but I want him out.

911 call taker: Does he have any weapons or anything?

Poplawski: Yes. They're all legal.

Call taker: OK, but he's not threatening you with anything?

Poplawski: Look, I'm just waking up from a sleep. I want him gone.

Call taker: OK, we'll send 'em over, OK?

Poplawski: Sounds good.

The message went to the police dispatcher: "No weapons."