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Name: SexyRed_ATL

Comment: This would be world wide news had this been a white woman! Absolutley disgusting.

Name: McNasty

Comment: I saw the little fellow interviewed and for a six year old he's pretty mature. The operator ought to be made to pay child support because she indirectly caused the death of his mother. I felt so bad and he got so frustrated with her when he knew he was telling the truth and she wasn't believing him. What I don't understand is whether it was a prank or not was not her only job to send assistance? She should be fired from this job and given another in the same organization so she can support this little boy!

Name: mcoreo

Comment: this is horrible. i thought that 911 had to take every call seriously. I hope they sue Detroit 911. Why did this lady have 10 kids????

Name: Industrypro

Comment: This story is so sad. The operator(who btw is black) is a disgrace. When a little white kid calls 911 to save a parent...ambulances are sent immediately and the operator is comforting to the child plus the national wire services always pick the story up and voila the kid, his mom are on Good Morning America....

Name: B00TANEB00TUS

Comment: ...It's just like the P.E. song 911 is a joke...Sometimes Black folks make me so dayum angry...You know if that was a lil white boy..."Yes you can tell"...She knew dayum well it was a lil Black kid...She woulda been more patient and more understanding...She bullied and scared this child..."Fire her black azz"...

Name: naturalsista

Comment: it was on the news in l.a. on friday. my condolences to the family. this is horrible and the little boy is mature for his age. the operator should be dismissed for gross negligence in performing her job and the union lady should shut her mouth because she comes off as ignorant in trying to excuse this as to all the prank calls received. it's 911, emergency. it's not their job to try to determine what's real or not. just send help.

Name: babycups

Comment: The real kicker is that last night on CNN the Union rep, Kimberly Harris (also a black woman), said "the little boy's voice was inaudible because we just moved into a new facility and have been having trouble with our on audio systems. We couldn't tell if he was serious." Are you kidding me?! Aren't you supposed to have that technical crap worked out BEFORE you move offices? We are not talking about the call center for the Policeman's Ball donations but 9-1-freakin-1!

Name: blakgirl

Comment: it is unconscionable to determine from a couple pieces of dialogue that a child is pranking on a 911 call. the operator didn't even bother to ask pertinent questions, like how long has his mom been passed out and so forth. furthermore, the fact that she stated she was going to send somebody out and didn't and threatened him is just sick.

Name: naturalsista

Comment: Wrongful Death Suit Planned After Boy's 911 Call Ignored Mother Died After Boy Called For Help POSTED: 6:41 am PDT April 10, 2006 DETROIT -- A prominent lawyer said he plans to file a lawsuit over the death of a Detroit woman whose young son was unable to convince a 911 operator his mother needed help. Geoffrey Fieger said 46-year-old Sherrill Turner, who had an enlarged heart, would have survived if help had been sent immediately. After Turner collapsed, Robert placed two calls to 911. In the first call, Robert said his mother had passed out, but an operator asked to speak with an adult. Robert Turner called 911 to get help for his mother, whom he found lying unconscious on the kitchen floor of their Detroit apartment in February, the station reported. "Then I had felt her tummy. She wasn't breathing. Then I had called 911," said Robert. "I told them to send an emergency truck right now." Fieger, best known for defending assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, appeared on morning talk shows with the boy, Robert Turner, who turned 6 last month.

Name: lisajs31

Comment: She should be FIRED!!! No questions asked!!! The union rep is making an excuse saying 25% of the calls are pranks. so WHAT! The 5year old said, " she can not talk". Oh well, poor Ms. 911 operator has just learned a lesson.

Name: Platinum

Comment: This story did make national news and the dispatcher won’t be fired. However I think due to pressure she about to face and guilt she will quit also I hope she will forever be haunted by this child’s voice crying out for help for his dying mother. My condolences are with the family as well.

Name: njack731

Comment: This is why unions, once the backbone of the labor movement are losing their credibility. Yhey have become too willing to protect incomptent or negligent workers. If the kid's voice was coming over as inaudible, or he called back again, someone should have physically responded if only to scare the crap out of him in case he was playing. As for wanting that operator on the other end of the line in the event of her own emergency, the union presidents deserves just that!

Name: Gemami

Comment: I am so sick about this. When I heard the audio call, heard how exasperated this boy was and then saw him -- I immediately thought of my nephew and what if it was him who called for my sister and the operator thought he was pulling a prank. I’m sick and I’m %*$!ed. There is NO reason in my mind why this operator did not send help immediately. This boy made it clear that his mother passed out. There shouldn’t be an investigation – both operators need to fired, immediately – period. How can people trust that these operators to provide assistance if they are blatantly bias?

Name: Joenkobema

Comment: I am a bit torn on this subject because of personal experiences. I will set forth now that I completley agree with the voices that have stated that no matter what prior circumstances or possiblity of prank, a curtosey drive should have been made with the first call. I recall a time when my child (now 6 years old) was learning of the importance of 9-1-1 and what it is used for. The main thing that the teacher said was "do not use 9-1-1 to call for ice cream or a ride to the park. 9-1-1 is for emergencies only" Bottom line my child did call 9-1-1 and asked the operator for ice cream and popcorn. The police did not show up, but did a call back (this is customary/mandatory for the county I lived in at the time)when my son hung up the phone. My dad did not believe that he had done that and told the officer that he had the wrong number. Well over the weekend (when I was home) my son did it again (he was 3 1/2 when he did this). This time I answered the phone when the officer curtosey called back, and when I put two and two together, I put leather on his backside! I understand the frustration that the operators must go through when dealing with pranksters. It can probably be really frustrating, but what I don't understand is why didn't they do a mandatory call back. The police not the 9-1-1 operator would have been able to make the necessary judgement call.

Name: Gemami

Comment: Joenkobema, I understand what you are saying because my youngest nephew did the same thing -- not call for ice cream -- but was playing with her cell phone and dialed 911. An officer showed up she had to explain her son did it by accident. So I know pranks happen and 911 operations are swamped with them -- however, this boy made it very clear that hiss mother passed out. That was the very first thing he said. Kids do not joke like that. Also, the tone of his voice should have been noted. The operator should have sent help ASAP, if to make sure the boy was o.k. I truly believe if the boy was white there wouldn't have been any questions -- help would have arrived as he was on the phone.

Name: ladybyrd

Comment: SexyRed_ATL > This was on World Wide news this pass Sunday. I watched in on 60 minutes, CNN, World News Tonight etc.

Name: Sexee

Comment: I was deepley sadden upon hearing the story. To make matters worse, it was an ignorant un-professional bufoon handling the call. Being "Fired"is the least of this woman's worries.

Name: amethyst

Comment: We expend great efforts teaching our children how to dial 911. Therefore, all children's calls should be taken seriously. The operators can ask questions to determine if there is really something wrong or if the child is playing. This little boy did the right thing, and his mother died as a result. What message does that send to him and other little ones? They may not trust the authorities.

Name: SilentJay

Comment: I'm riding with McNasty on this one. That nasty heffer sould be made to pay child support. Who the Hell did she she was that she didn't have to follow protocol and take that boy seriously. And I'm just guessing but she sounded like she may be black and if so that brings up another issue. You ever notice that some black people in public service positions feel like than talk to black customers how ever the Hell they want. Why do you think that is.

Name: Gemami

Comment: I read that they are not going to fire the operator because she's been with Emergency Services for so long but she will be discipline (whatever that means). The mother, I believe has 10 children; losing her is a huge lost to the family. I better hear Jesse and Al in the next day or so. If Jesse can rally behind keeping that coma woman alive he better be on a plane to Detroit demanding the operator is fired, at the very least.

Name: ladybyrd

Comment: amethyst > When they reported this story on Word News Tonight they said prank 911 calls are at an all high. More than 30% of the calls are pranks, but they said that certain states makes sure that their operators are trained to ask certain question to validify the calls. They played his calls on the news and the operators were telling him if he is playing on the phone is going to get in trouble and his Mom is going to be angry. It was very sad.

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