Johnson County, MO Central Dispatch is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in western Missouri. Currently, like most PSAPs in the state, Johnson County Central dispatch is unable to locate wireless 9-1-1 calls. They are able to receive wireless calls but have no location data or a call back number if calls get disconnected.
Copies of two recent Phase 0 wireless 9-1-1 calls clearly highlighting the need for Phase II wireless E9-1-1 and federal grants to support technology upgrades are available at http://www.nena.org/pages/Content.asp?CID=222&CTID=10
On June 9th, 2006, at 2:48 a.m. Johnson County Central Dispatch received a frantic wireless Phase 0 call from a woman requesting help because of a domestic abuse situation. The recording only lasts for about 25 seconds in which the caller is short of breath, panicked and shouting that her husband has abused her and taken the phone from her. Then the caller begins to scream hysterically as her husband takes the phone from her and the call is disconnected. As of today, Johnson County Central Dispatch has not received any additional calls, nor do they know the status of the caller. They likely never will.
On Saturday, May 20th, at 5:43 p.m. Johnson County Central Dispatch received a Wireless Phase 0 call. Initially, the only sound that could be heard was a very faint sound of "help me", but the caller was non-responsive to questions from the 9-1-1 call taker. For the next 4 minutes, constant attempts by personnel within Johnson County Central Dispatch to determine the caller’s location were responded to with an occasional “help me". While the line remained open all attempts to communicate with the caller were met with silence until the 15th minute of the call. Realizing there was a problem, including the sound of a smoke detector in the background, the
9-1-1 telecommunicator did not disconnect the call and remained on the line. In the 18th minute the caller was finally able to speak and after numerous questions the telecommunicator was able to determine the location of the caller. Emergency services were dispatched to an address in the City Limits of Warrensburg, MO, thought the specific apartment number was not known.
Once on the scene, responders needed to determine which apartment the caller was in. The 9-1-1 telecommunicator began playing the classic game of “hot and cold” with responders on the scene as they banged on doors asking the telecommunicator if they could hear knocking getting louder over the phone. 28 minutes into the call responders were successful in gaining entrance into the apartment and found the caller unconscious with her cell phone on the ground next to her.The 21 year pregnant woman put something on the stove and took a shower. She came out of the shower and was overcome by the smoke of something burning on the stove. She collapsed and called 9-1-1 from her cell phone as she was passing out. Thanks to the dedication of Johnston County Central Dispatch, the caller was saved. However this very well could have ended in tragedy and would likely have ended much faster had the location of the caller been known.Both of these calls are clear examples of the importance of the precise location of all 9-1-1 calls, and the critical importance of federal funding for grants to PSAPs to upgrade their technology to locate wireless 9-1-1 calls.
Transcript of Johnson County, MO Wireless Phase 0
Domestic Abuse 9-1-1 Call
Caller: …trying to hurt me. Give me the phone.
Telecommunicator: Johnson County 9-1-1. What is your emergency?
Caller:
Telecommunicator: OK, what’s your address?
Caller: He tried to take a phone from me….
Telecommunicator: What’s your address?
Caller: …so that I, so that I, so that I could call somebody.
Telecommunicator: What is your address?
Caller:
Male Voice: Get off the phone!
Caller:
Telecommunicator: What is your address?
Caller:
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