Two people shot dead while St. Louis police respond to wrong address a block away

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 8-9-14 | Joel Currier

[Controlling Legal Authority]

ST. LOUIS • City police officers called after a violent domestic dispute in July were dispatched to the wrong address while the attacker returned and shot two people dead, officials said Friday.

[Controlling Legal Authority]

Once again, when seconds count, you better hope that a typical human error doesn't happen if you have no means to protect yourself.

[DJ Taylor]

It’s time the SLPD invested in GPS navigation equipment.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Dial 9-1-1 and die.

[UCANSEE2]

Wrong address about a block away.

Was it a Dunkin Donuts ?

[GeronL]

They can’t do the most basic and cursory police work these days? UPS probably gets the wrong house less often.

[Calvin Locke]

...were dispatched to the wrong address ...

Perhaps better integration between the CPID and the patrol car, requiring only the dispatcher to press a "dispatch" button, and not read/listen and repeat back to the officers?

[Sir Napsalot]

Wrong cell phone apps.

[UCANSEE2]

Maybe the cops were using that new SmartPhone App that tells you where the ‘bad’ neighborhoods are.

[ricmc2175]

Perhaps better arming the citizens and disarming the police to protect the local dogs and off duty officers. They couldn’t have stopped the killing but they could have shot all the dogs in the neighborhood.

[ridesthemiles]

Sounds like error on the part of the DISPATCHER to me.

[Paulie]

You are exactly right. When the gun confiscation tyrants rear their ugly head again, this story should be pointed out as a major reason we need to respect the 2A (as a shield against tyranny is a major reason also, but too many LIV will never understand it).

I'm tempted to speculate as to why the miscommunication between the victim and the dispatcher occurred, but I'll refrain.

[TADSLOS]

Ping.

[cripplecreek]

The Detroit police chief says he’ll criminally charge dispatchers who lie to callers. Seems that they had a problem of telling callers that police were on the way and not bothering to dispatch one and people died as a direct result of it.

Its important to note that he’s actively encouraging people to arm and defend themselves.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The important thing is that the officers went home safely to their families that night.

[Chode]

the people int the house they DID goto are lucky THEY didn't get shot...

[BilLies]

Worth noting that none of the people quoted in the article having anything bad to say about the perp, and none of the comments about the article have anything good to say about COPS in general, or in particular.
Is it a neighborhood thing?

[txrefugee]

By the time they put on their ninja suits and get all their military toys together, your a** is grass. Police departments could save money by just buying yellow crime tape and chalk.

[ravenwolf]

No telling how many people would have been shot dead had the police been at the right address.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Frantic victim and bad connection?