For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do. https://t.co/FqdZG2W6zZ pic.twitter.com/nlO9WLILcP, FOX 32 News (@fox32news) August 31, 2019. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as aFort Smith Police Department dispatcher. You had to go right over it, she said. Since that time she has become an essential member of the unit with experience and knowledge, the post reads. "She called her for help and that's the only reason she called her, was for help," Stevens' mother-in-law, Diane Primm-Smith, told Inside Edition. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. A 911 operator who lectured a drowning woman for accidentally driving into rising floodwaters in Arkansas and told her to 'shut up' minutes before she died will not be facing charges after an internal investigation. When we are unsuccessful, it hurts.". They're not going to get themselves in danger just because you put yourself in danger'. Stevens first called Diane when she became trapped. As Stevens began to panic, Reneau's responses . Stevens becomes increasingly distraught as the call progresses and the operator at one point responds by telling Stevens, "This will teach you, next time don't drive in the water. Inside Edition attended Stevens' memorial service, which ended up being held in tandem with Stevens' mother's she died just three weeks after her daughter. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. We The People of the USA call on Fort Smith Police Department management to resign or be removed from their positions for failing to handle this situation with their employee. Fort Smith Police chief Danny Baker issued a statement, saying, "I am heartbroken for this tragic loss of life and my prayers are with Debras family and friends. Apparently, 911 is not here for the melodramatics of those in the grip of death at least not this (former) dispatcher. She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". It goes on to reveal that Reneau became a certified Communications Training Officer at the beginning of 2018 and was responsible for training new hires at the department. "She was brokenhearted.". DONNA RENEAU. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. When the team did arrive to save her, the flooding delayed their attempts to get to her:When first responders were finally able to reach Mrs. Stevens and extract her from the vehicle, she had tragically succumbed to drowning., Wait. did this guy Danny Baker just say that #Donnareneau has had to endure things as a dispatcher that no one should have to? 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks . When asked, "What did you like most about your job?" The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her final shift after giving her notice two weeks earlier according to the Fort Smith Police Department, replied flippantly telling her. Reneau was never charged, and on Friday, the Fort Smith Police Department announced that she had been cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal probe, the paper said. Would love your thoughts, please comment. and The dispatcher, Donna Reneau, at one point told Stevens to "shut up" during the horrific call, which was recorded and released after Stevens' untimely death. Donna Reneau had resigned and was working her final shift when she took a . Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. 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When Stevens explained that she hadnt seen the water coming before her car was swept up in it, Reneau made no attempt to mask her disbelief. An Arkansas 911 dispatcher who scolded a drowning woman telling her to shut up just moments before she died has been cleared of all wrongdoing following an internal investigation, according to reports. I know the water level is high but you freaking out is doing nothing but losing your oxygen so calm down', Reneau said in the audio. 5NEW Why Fort Smith Dispatcher Resigned; City Leaders Weigh In on Shocking 911 Call, A local Black barbershop honors the community, Arkansas Governor Sanders signs executive order aiming to change foster care, More clouds Wednesday with storms by Thursday, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas, A lot of promises were broken to the third shift, She wanted to bring up the idea of possibly having a system where a dispatcher can have a "distress break" after they take a high-stress call, She wanted to bring up on her most recent incident, she felt really good that Chief Baker personally reached out to her to check on her after the traumatic incident. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car, Reneau could be heard telling the first responders searching for her: 'I'm on the phone with her now and she is legit freaking out. The recording (edited to remove sensitive content) was released by the Fort Smith Police Department in an effort to remain as transparent as possible regarding events that transpired during Stevens failed rescue. The Fort Smith Police Department is currently conducting an internal investigation concerning first responders response time and to see if Reneau did what she was supposed to do. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. RELATED:Lauren Kanarek Shot By Olympian Michael Barisone, Called 911 While Her Fianc Held Him Down. Debra Stevens repeatedly asked for help during the call, but was . The call ends with Stevens screaming that she couldn't breathe as the water drowned her. Debra Stevens did die. The first crews arrived on the scene about ten minutes later but had difficulty identifying Stevens exact location due to the high waters. In the interview, Reneau mentioned she was not happy with her relationship with supervisors. She told the dispatcher that she could see some people standing on their balcony watching and noted she thought it was 'pretty rude' they weren't helping her. It is so unfortunate that her entire career willbe defined by this single incident. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. Fort Smith interim Police Chief Danny Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24 when Debra Stevens died. August 30, 2019 06:45 PM A woman drowned in a flash flood in Arkansas on Saturday after calling 911 to say she was trapped in her car as water was rising around her. I CANT BREATHE!, Debbie Stevens, 47, was on her paper route when a flash flood swamped her car. Stevens eventually drowned. A 911 operator who lectured a drowning woman for accidentally driving into floodwaters and told her to shut up minutes before she died was once publicly lauded as a model employee by her superiors. 'Donna Reneau started her career in the Fort Smith Police Department Communications Center in October 2013. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after putting in her two weeks notice, is under fire for her "uncaring" response. Police acknowledged the 911 call sounded 'calloused and uncaring at times' but insisted that 'sincere efforts' were made to try and located Stevens. Every police officer on duty is busy on other calls. "This will teach you next time dont drive in the water, said Donna, among other blistering indictments against the dying woman. FORT SMITH, Ark. Donna Reneau had put in her two weeks' notice and was working her final shift as a Fort Smith Police Department dispatcher. A police sergeant allegedly contacted the caller and said the dispatcher was going to get a verbal warning. . 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' The family of a woman who drowned while . A former Arkansas 911 dispatcher was cleared of wrongdoing following accusations that she mishandled a call with a drowning woman and told her to "shut up" just moments before she died. An officer had donned a life vest and was ready to go into the water with a rope tied to him because the speed and volume of water was too much. Since Reneau no longer works for the. Stevens had been delivering. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. Will you do the same? Dispatcher begins gathering information. To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. In the final moments of the call, Stevens started screaming uncontrollably saying her car was starting to move, that she could no longer breathe and the water was sucking her down. 4.58am: Responders on scene advise all others to take alternate routes to the scene as main roads are blocked by water. The dispatcher then apologized to her while laughing, she stated. Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com 'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. - A former 911 dispatcher in Arkansas was cleared of any wrongdoing in how she handled a call in which she scolded a panicking woman for driving into floodwaters before she drowned. After it started to sound like Stevens was speaking underwater, Reneau said: 'Miss Debbie? Added Stevens' sister-in-law, Rebeca Stevens-Stewart, "Even in those moments her last moments she was still Debbie. Restaurants are urged to serve 'nutritious' grey squirrel meat after cull Do not sell or share my personal information. 5NEWS has obtained an exit interview. We call on Fort Smith Police Department and Fort Smith city officials to investigate and prosecute Donna Reneau for these crimes that led to this woman's death in failing to do her job. The horrific 911 audio has revealed Donna Reneau lecturing the distraught woman who feared for her life after driving into flood waters and telling her to 'shut up' in the moments before she drowned. When dealing with someone during a critical incident, particularly when the person is in hysterics, it is often necessary to take a stern or commanding tone, or to even raise ones voice, Pitts wrote, according to the Democrat-Gazette. When asked why she was leaving her position at the police department, Reneau said she wanted to return to school. https://www.dailycelebuk.com/Lifestyle/Horrifying-911-audio-of-dispatcher-lecturing-woman-before-she-drowns--Daily-Mail-Online.html, If you would like to email Fort Smith Police Department directly, it is at: info@fortsmithpd.org. (Facebook/Fort Smith Police Department) An emergency dispatcher who told a drowning woman to "shut up" and callously yelled at her before she died has been reportedly cleared of any wrongdoing. Stressful start to National Offer Day? 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working . For five years, she worked as a 911 dispatcher and she was so good at her job that she was actually certified to help other people, too. Please help me. He said the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. 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