Actually, the 911 operator said: we will send a car as soon as one is free. Never should have said that. As soon as he said that, the gal’s emotions and panic escalated.
I accept that he has to remain calm and motivate her to control herself to say where and what, but when he said that, she almost lost control. And, he could have offered to stay on the line with her until she heard sirens or saw the police car. She had waited over 10 years for this moment, he could have given her 90 seconds more.
I see your point. If 911 tells me, “We’ll send a car as soon as one is free,” I don’t take the comment literally. I assume my request has already been sent to the dispatcher, and now the 911 operator is just following up with questions.
However, a woman held captive for 10 years, beginning at 16, and perhaps making her first 911 call would take his comment literally and might be driven to panic.