Wisconsin co-ed dials 911; dies anyway

[Intrepid Dad]

Here is a story I wish didn't have to be reported. A Wisconsin student dialed 911 after someone broke into her apartment. According to the story, 911 didn't take her seriously. She was subsequently killed.

MADISON, Wis. — A college student apparently called 911 from her cell phone shortly before she was killed but a dispatcher hung up, failed to call back and never sent police to investigate, authorities said Thursday.

Zimmermann, 21, was found slain in her apartment in an apparently random crime. Police believe someone broke into her apartment before killing her. They have not identified a suspect but have ruled out her fiance, who found her body in the apartment they shared.

Dane County Public Safety Communications Director Joseph Norwick said the dispatcher who received the call from Zimmermann's cell phone inquired several times to determine whether an emergency existed. The dispatcher hung up after receiving no answer and then answered another 911 call that was waiting, he said.

Since she was 21, I assume she was able to own a rifle or handgun. It's unfortunate she depended on 911 instead of herself. I hope they find the killer and punish him/her appropriately.

Here's the link to the full article:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353938,00.html

 

[-v-]

Norwick said he was investigating the incident and reviewing whether policies should be changed and employees should be disciplined. But he also said, "I don't think there's anything to apologize for at this time."

The Police, here to protect you, when they feel like it.

Very sad tale, might have been markedly different if she was armed. Thats why as a college student, living off-campus, I never keep less then 1 loaded handgun within easy reach at all times.

 

[cowssurf]

Wow. 911 is a joke. Well, that is too harsh. It does a lot of good in a lot of situations, but clearly it is not enough for all situations.

 

[SecuritySixShooter]

Accountability. Is it to much to ask?

 

[Picard]

What a tragedy.

 

[Robert Hairless]

As a father it hurt to read that story.

In the end all we can rely on is ourselves. Parents need to help their children become self-sufficient.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Parents need to help their children become self-sufficient.

Yep. That's what mammals do, with a single exception. Some perverted strains of Homo sapiens turn their young into serfs of the state.

 

[Sato Ord]

Most 911 dispatchers in Florida dispatch police if you call and then don't respond. In all of the counties down here I've had dealings with, that is policy. Of course that didn't save that Sheriff's Deputy's daughter who was kidnapped and murdered since the dispatcher still didn't bother to send the police!

If I need an ambulance the first thing I reach for is my cell phone. If I need protection from someone breaking into my home the first thing I will reach for is my weapon! I want to make sure that if there's a body for the police to find, it ain't mine.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

It's unfortunate she depended on 911 instead of herself.

There is not enough information to determine this statement to be factual or not. All we know is that a call was made from her phone. There is NO WAY to ascertain that this was the only thing she did or that she did not also rely on herself.

911 is just a tool, nothing more. A gun is a tool, nothing more. A gun can be brought into use much quicker, no doubt. However, a gun won't do other things.

They each have their purpose and if used properly by folks who understand their capabilities, they each are good. Both are known to be significant in the saving of lives and both are known to have failed in this regard as well.

 

[romma]

Madison,WI is one of the most liberal, anti-gun, anti-self-defense areas in all the United States.

It is no wonder people have a mindset to depend entirely on 911 in places like this.

Very tragic story. And an even more tragic stance by the police department there.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

I wonder how the dispatcher is feeling today.

 

[JohnL2]

Madison, Wisconsin emergency service is headed by none other than...

 

[jefmad]

This is more a case of not enough staff to handle the call volume. Once she called 911 the operator answered and the call hung up. The operator knew it was from a cell phone, didn't know where the call came from, and HAD 2 OTHER CALLS ON HOLD WAITING FOR HER TO ANSWER. Not that it makes it better but I can sure understand how it happened.

 

[doc2rn]

I don't think there's anything to apologize for at this time."

Are you kidding me! Fire the lot of them and start over. Something is broken and needs fixing in Maddison. A girl died on your watch chief. How serious does it have to get before you acknowledge the problem?

 

[Tyris]

I wonder how the dispatcher is feeling today.

What difference would it make? the police would not be able to defend her as they'd get there 10-15 minutes later anyhow. They'd just draw the chalk outline as usual.

-T

 

[Tyris]

double

 

[Samuel Adams]

Many questions remain unanswered.

1. How many dispatchers were on duty?

2. If there was only one, how serious was the second call that she took?

3. Zimmerman called on a cell phone instead of a land line. Was the dispatch center Phase II compliant, meaning that the location of the cell phone was triangulated and placed on a computerized map?

4. The contents of the call were not released. Was the dispatcher able to get the girl's address prior to being disconnected?

I've been dispatching since 1982. All of the cell calls can't be tracked.

 

[woof]

So how does one determine if their local 911 is able to track location of cell phone calls? No-one is suggesting (are they?) that calls are taken less seriously JUST because they are coming from a cell phone?

 

[BruceRDucer]

on the other hand

What a senseless tragedy. What if it went this way?

Co-Ed: ("Bang".....shoots intruder then dials ...911)

"Hello! I need to report a break-in.....etc"

-----------------------------------------------------

But unfortunately, we seldom learn about the victim's mindset and rationale, even after such a tragedy.

Too often, the person felt "safe" or somehow protected by some "Magic Thought Bubble" whereby they wished no harm to anyone.

It isn't the lawless element that I cannot understand. I understand selfishness, and a will to prey upon others.

What I do not understand, is the rationale behind the law abiding citizen's willingness to be a victim, and their willingness to live in a "Magic Thought Bubble".

It looks like this:

"Nothing will hurt me, if I THINK nothing will hurt me."

This might work regarding certain kinds of non-physical wounds caused by words and negative attitudes; but when wounding goes to the physical, beyond words, and beyond emotions, .... "Magical Thought Bubbles" will not insulate us from harm.


/

 

[dmazur]

While it probably varies, I have read of several recent cases where there was a shooting (at a school) and one of the victim's next-of-kin sued the school for not providing a safe environment for the student, and for preventing self-defense by creating a gun-free zone.

The defense argued that the school had done no wrong and had no obligation to protect the students.

Similar arguments are used when police departments are blamed for failing to provide protection.

The "To Protect and Serve" should be taken off their vehicles. Maybe allow "To Investigate and Possibly Prosecute if You're Lucky".

And (the ultimate crime, IMO), they are hammering "be a victim" into the heads of the kids at the grade school level. I was touched by the story of a mom who explained to her daughter (in a gun store) that the guns behind the counter weren't necessarily bad, that they were useful. Grandpa uses one to get that deer sausage you like. Her daughter had acted scared when she saw all the guns, and you know she didn't get that at home...

 

[The Tourist]

If you want to really have your day spolied, read the entire article in today's (May 2, 2008) edition of The Wisconsin State Journal.

It turns out that 911 operators hung up on dozens of people that day. It had been my false assumption that all telephone calls had to have follow up.

For example, if I have a severe heart attack, the only thing I might be able to do is dial 911 before I pass out.

It's no secret that I despise Wisconsin's lack of concern for drunkeness, CCW legislation, taxes and now the very lives of the citizens it has vowed to protect.

My wife has one more year before she retires. She also dislikes the circumstances of our residency. I have told her that I will support her actions no matter what choice she makes. If she walked off her job today, I would toast her with Patron. She maximizes her pension next year.

I watch me retired friends leave one by one. My wife and I will have a serious discussion next year.

 

[Harley Quinn]

This is an interesting thread, I sure hope bogie does not complain that it is not gun related The way threads like this have been getting closed and mentioned they need to go to APS is interesting

APS must have a lot of data space available

 

[The Tourist]

I think the thread has already accomplished its goal.

We all know where the article is located, and we all have well known opinions on firearms and unilateral personal disarmament.

 

[mikesays_hi]

Do you have to be 21 to own a firearm or just to get a concealed carry permit?

 

[jefmad]

The Tourist,
While I like many things Wisconsin has to offer only a fool stays here after retirement if they have another choice. The govt is full of crooked tax and spend busybodies that are sure they know better than you how you should live your life. I have a business in Madison that I will be able to run from far away and as soon as my son graduates high school we will most likely be Texas residents.