911 - Does It Really Work?

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911 - Does It Really Work?

I know I'll probably get some hate mail for this article, but that's ok because I can back up what I'm about to say in this report. Most of you have heard at one time or another where someone would dial 911 expecting to get fast and professional help only to receive the run-around!. About a year ago I heard of a story where a woman was driving on a major expressway in California, she saw a mattress in the middle of the road, cars were going every which way to avoid it. This lady dialed 911, but what given such a run-around and couldn't get anyone to comeout and remove the mattress she simply said "if you don't do something about it, it's going to cause an traffic accident and someone could die". Well guess what, 911 didn't do anything, there was an accident (caused by the mattress) and someone did die.

Today on Philadelphia's News/Talk Radio WWDB I heard of another 911 horror story which probably lead to the death of more people who thought 911 was there to help. (I believe this story was about an incident in the mid-west). Philadelphia several years ago made national news with their 911 screw-up which lead to the death of a boy suffering for over an hour with a gun-shot wound. If I'm not mistaken it took over 1 hour for the police to arrive, however only minutes after the original call, police sirens were heard just blocks away.

Well, we all think "It Can't Happen To Me". Well believe me it can happen to anyone at anytime! And when government officials are made away of such poor 911 service they DO NOTHING! I personally have had 2 first hand experencies with the 911 system, both in Reading, PA Berks County. BOTH WERE VERY BAD! After my second horrifying experence with Reading's 911 system I wrote the mayor's office, to date I've heard nothing as a result of my letter. Below you'll find my letter:

195 Musser Road E4
East Earl, PA 17519

February 7, 1998

Mayor Paul J. Angstadt
City Hall
815 Washington St.
Reading, PA 19601

Dear Mayor Angstadt,

On Saturday February 7th at 1:30PM I made a call to Berks 911 using my cell phone. I wanted to report a reckless driver driving in Reading, PA. This driver was speeding well over 50MPH coming down Chestnut St. crossing 5th St. He nearly hit me from behind. He then changed lanes, passed me and came within inches of hitting the rear of a trash truck and two men standing behind the truck. I proceeded to dial 911. Telling the operator of what had just happened, I was asked "Do you want the phone number for the Reading Police". I thought that by dialing 911, I would be (or at least be put) in contact with the Police. The operator said that was the only thing he could do for me. Isn't 911 to help in emergencies? I even told him I was calling from a car and it was all I could to remember the license plate number of the reckless car let along trying to remember a phone number. But I was able to write down the number. I even repeated the License number to the operator hoping that he would at least write it down, but he just simply stated all he could do is give me a phone number!

Now, if that wasn't bad enough. I called the number given for Reading Police. I told the operator what had happened. He asked for my name, home address, phone number, and cell phone number. He never asked for the license plate number. But I did give it to the operator. Now, he did asked me to repeat my home address, bet he never acknowledged the fact he heard me tell him the license plate. I'm not even sure he wrote it down as he was too busy worrying about my home address. My home address isn't in Berks County!

This is not my first disappointment with the Berks 911 system. December 31, 1989 I was driving through Shillington, PA and while driving, someone shot out my passenger side window. When telling the 911 operator of what happened, he just laughed at me! And then when the police (Shillington Boro) called me at home, I was made to feel as if I was wasting their time. Meanwhile there was glass all over my seats and the parking lot and if I had a passenger at the time, probably blood.

In summary I'm very disappointed in how these near life and death situations were handled. And thanks to the 911 operator, a very reckless driver got away. Why does Berks County have a 911 Service, if I wanted a phone number I would dial 555-1212, not 911! I do not live in Berks County, and now never will knowing what I know about the Emergency 911 system of Berks County. I do plan on forwarding this letter to as many people as I think can help with this situation.

If you would like to ask any questions regarding this incident, feel free to call my home number (717) 354-4785.

Sincerely,

George W. Fetter

P.S. If anyone cares it was a small white sports car with a black roof driven by a black male in his early 20's. There was a black male as a passenger also in his early 20's. The car had a PA TAG of BNJ 2557.

I recently used a search engine and did a search on "911 problems" and found I'm not along. A little over a year ago 2 police officers in Cincinnati bleed to dealth while waiting for 911 to dispatch police and medical personal to an "officer down" call. You can find the entire article at The Cincinnati Enquirer

We as a nation keep throwing money at the problem of poor 911 service, but is it working? I don't think so. American is a country were government thinks throwing money at a problem is the solution. Its not a matter of money, its a matter of people today have lost their commonsense.

PS: Please note, the address and phone in the above letter were current at the time the letter was written, however I've since moved. If anyone would like to contact me about this incident, please email my at av8tor@flash.net