Sometimes you just can’t tell who will be able to convey information to you and who will not. Disregarding folks who are new to an area, or just visiting, there’s still a huge number of people, or so it seems sometimes, who simply don’t know the basics about where they are, and which way is up.
Well, I suppose they can figure out which way is up, but trying to get north, east, south, or west out of them is like pulling those proverbial teeth out of those proverbial hens. Some folks just have no clue.
Now, they’ll tell us it’s “to the left”, but, really…. that doesn’t help. Turn around and your “left” is now the opposite direction! And telling me that it’s now to your right won’t improve the situation!
You guessed it… another 9-1-1 caller without a clue, calling in on a cell phone. No idea of the address of the house they live in, no idea which way east is, and unclear on what “get a piece of mail and read me the address” means.
It’s most annoying when they get mad at US for not knowing where THEY are! I want to reach through that phone and slap them silly. That’s probably why that particular feature is not activated on our systems. Part of our job is protecting the public. Even from us! 
Kidding! (sort of)
I almost titled this one “stupid criminal tricks” but until someone actually gets convicted, I suppose criminal is a bit judgmental….
At least she didn’t call 9-1-1….
“You did WHAT with your 2 year old???”
April 12, 2013
Jim Reeves 9-1-1, commentary, Personal 9-1-1 dispatcher stories, 9-1-1 stories, cop voice, dispatcher voice, idiot callers 4 Comments
I don’t often order people around on 9-1-1 calls. It’s not my place to tell them what to do, or how to behave. My job is simply to gather information, and dispatch the appropriate equipment and people to deal with their emergency. This morning a 9-1-1 call came in that tossed all my training right out the window. I had to use my “cop voice”, and order someone (and it took several times) to do something. I really don’t recall the last time I’ve done that.
This morning’s call, however, had me in full “get your ass back home right now!” mode.
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