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Mom Not Laughing at 911 Dispatcher's joke
Fort Worth Star Telegram | April 13 2005 | Leila Fadel

Posted on 04/13/2005 11:12:46 AM PDT by tuffydoodle

Mom not laughing at 911 dispatcher's 'joke'

By Leila Fadel

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

WATAUGA - Lori came home to find her daughters fighting that Monday evening. Her 12-year-old had kicked a hole in the door, and the girls were hitting and throwing things at each other. She feared one or both would be seriously hurt.

She called 911 and asked for help. Her 12-year-old daughter was out of control, she told the call-taker.

"OK. Do you want us to come over to shoot her?" the dispatcher asked, according to a recording released this week. For five seconds, the line went dead.

"Are you there?" the call-taker asked.

"Excuse me?" Lori said.

Mike Forbess, a dispatcher of five years for the Watauga Department of Public Safety, then told her he was joking and apologized. But Lori cannot get his comment out of her head.

"This is a slap in the face that my child was not important enough, my call for help, my 911 call was not important enough that he had to make a joke about it," Lori said Monday. She asked that her last name not be used to avoid identifying her daughters, one of whom has emotional problems.

Forbess immediately told his supervisor about the call. He received a letter of reprimand two days later. Forbess received a second letter of reprimand from Chief David Van Laar on Monday, the same day the Star-Telegram obtained a copy of the 911 call recording, and of Forbess' disciplinary records.

The mother, however, said her faith in the 911 system remains shaken. She said she plans to file a formal complaint.

"I do not have words to tell you how shocked I am that someone is allowed to do this," she said. "You don't do people like this, and then get a slap on the wrist."

In his letter to Forbess, Van Laar wrote: "This type of response cannot be tolerated, and this letter shall serve as notice that any future unprofessional responses while answering the 911 line will be cause for termination."

But the reprimand is not enough, the mother said.

The next time she has an emergency, she said, she won't feel safe calling 911.

"This man does need to be disciplined," Lori said. "How can a person in this line of work be so unfeeling that he asked a person who needed help, 'Would you like us to come over and shoot your child?'

"That's an interoffice disciplinary action," she said of the reprimands. "That doesn't do anything.

Van Laar made no excuses for the dispatcher.

"The reason I didn't take tougher action is, he immediately owned up to his supervisor and said he made a mistake," Van Laar said. "He's a good employee. He just made a severe mistake which is inexcusable. ... This is not something you should hear on the other end of a 911 call."

In an interview Monday, Forbess said he is sorry for his comment to the woman. In five years with the department, the dispatcher has never been disciplined for his handling of 911 calls.

Forbess has received two commendations from community members for his work. He was disciplined once with a written warning for working an unauthorized shift for a co-worker.

"I am so sorry for what I said to that lady, and I can never make it up to her," Forbess said. "I'm ashamed of my actions, what I said and what I did. I would take it back if I could, but I can't. I'm just very sorry that I did it. It was a poor choice of things to say."

Forbess said that he sometimes tells jokes or changes his tone of voice to ease the stress of a caller. In this case, he said, his words made the situation worse.

"I admit what I did. It was stupid, it was inexcusable and I'm sorry," Forbess said. "I know it's not enough for her or for the papers or for the rest of the world. I've taken the punishment that they gave."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 911doesnotspelldad; badcops; callnanny911; donutwatch; dramaqueen; emergency911; lol; lolol; stupidho; tryspanking; whereisthedad
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To: subterfuge

Chief: Um yea Mr. Forbess . . .

Forbess: I know Chief, I received the letter of reprimand, I admit guilt and apologize for the mistake, and really just want to get back to doing a good job and helping people

Chief: Yea, ummmm, so if you can admit your mistake and apologize, that would be greaaaaat mmmmkay?


41 posted on 04/13/2005 11:24:49 AM PDT by ruiner
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To: tuffydoodle
"I know it's not enough for her or for the papers or for the rest of the world. I've taken the punishment that they gave."

It's enough for me. Now get back to work.

42 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:02 AM PDT by It's me
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To: Magic Fingers
She wasn't looking for easy money when she called.

Sure as hell sounds like it.

43 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:18 AM PDT by Sloth (I don't post a lot of the threads you read; I make a lot of the threads you read better.)
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To: tuffydoodle

You should listen to the audio at the link. It's hilarious.


44 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:30 AM PDT by avg_freeper (Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga galunga)
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To: avg_freeper

I heard that one on the radio the other day and it's the first thing i thought off when i read this post :)

Such a great call. I give credit to the dispatcher, i would have been fired before i hung up.


45 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:42 AM PDT by tfecw (Vote Democrat, It's easier than working)
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To: Mears
What the hell is the matter with some parents these days?

Adult males tend to end arguments among children.

46 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:47 AM PDT by AmishDude (Join the AmishDude fan club: "You are a wise man." -- Torie; "You rock!" -- TonyRo76)
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To: Magic Fingers

"She wasn't looking for easy money when she called"

Uh, what was she looking for? Someone to come over and do the job that she failed to do?


47 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:51 AM PDT by tuffydoodle
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To: Magic Fingers
She wasn't looking for easy money when she called.

She wanted to take the easy way out, by having the cops take over her parenting, such as it is.

48 posted on 04/13/2005 11:25:59 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: tuffydoodle

"I think she´s looking for some easy money"

I think you hit the nail on the head.


49 posted on 04/13/2005 11:26:16 AM PDT by Americanexpat (A strong democracy through citizen oversight.)
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To: i_dont_chat
My opinion, this guy is not equipped to be a dispatcher. Most likely, he will resign on his own soon enough, and find other, more suitable, employment.

He's been on the job for five years! He's doing a fine job.

50 posted on 04/13/2005 11:26:25 AM PDT by It's me
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To: tuffydoodle

I would have cracked a joke too. The mother can't control her daughters? That's her problem, not mine.


51 posted on 04/13/2005 11:27:10 AM PDT by ServesURight
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To: tuffydoodle
I am so sorry for what I said to that lady, and I can never make it up to her," Forbess said. "I'm ashamed of my actions, what I said and what I did. I would take it back if I could, but I can't. I'm just very sorry that I did it. It was a poor choice of things to say."

Okay, lady, has the guy groveled enough for you. What's next? A million dollar lawsuit alleging emotional distress? Get real? Get a life! Should the dispatcher have said this? No. But sheesh, if that's the worst thing that happens to you then life is good. On the other hand, lady, it sounds like you've got some serious problems with your girls.

52 posted on 04/13/2005 11:27:20 AM PDT by Obadiah
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To: ruiner

I always call 911 when my cats get into a fight.


53 posted on 04/13/2005 11:27:46 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: Obadiah

Somehow I get the feeling that wasn't the first time that household made a call to 911.


54 posted on 04/13/2005 11:28:13 AM PDT by dfwgator (Minutemen: Just doing the jobs that American politicians won't do.)
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To: tuffydoodle
I'm seriously disappointed in some comments I've read. This woman had NO business calling 911. His comment is actually pretty funny. No, he should not be fired, hell, I'd give him a raise.

She's obviously a drama queen who is looking for a windfall. I wish we knew her name so we could look out for her offspring in the future. In fact, She should be fined for wasting 911's time. Now she is afraid she can't trust 911, give me a brake, I'd love to see what this fine example of humanity looks like. Dollars to doughnuts, she looks like a doughnut.
55 posted on 04/13/2005 11:28:15 AM PDT by Lx (The Sacramento Bee is giving Pravda a run for its money...)
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To: ruiner

You're right.
Rule 62 all round


56 posted on 04/13/2005 11:28:40 AM PDT by Syberyenta
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To: tuffydoodle
It never did say if the daughter was committed. An out of control child or adult is usually a key word for mental patient gone wild. The only reason to commit anyone is if they are a danger to themselves or others and the out of control phrase is often used for request for emergency committal.
57 posted on 04/13/2005 11:28:59 AM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghanistan Honor Roll students.)
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To: AmishDude
Well, to be honest, you can't just call the cops directly anymore, you pretty much have to call 911.

Yeah, I don't understand why there isn't three-digit non-emergency numbers. Even Xlinton proposed that idea in 1996.

58 posted on 04/13/2005 11:30:17 AM PDT by ServesURight
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To: tuffydoodle

Hmm, couldn't dad administer the needed discipline? Oh, wait, silly me. Dads aren't necessary.


59 posted on 04/13/2005 11:31:27 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: avg_freeper

OK everyone needs to check out this 911 call:
Burger King 911 Call




"Woman: Well . . . that is . . . that . . . you're supposed to be here to protect me.

Dispatcher: Well, what are we protecting you from, a wrong cheeseburger?"


Good GRIEF!!! The land of fruits and nuts!!!


60 posted on 04/13/2005 11:31:30 AM PDT by Maria S
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