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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI used to be a 911 dispatcher. I had to respond to racist calls every day.
This is an example of how institutional racism works. White people are afraid of people simply because they're black, and call the police, and the police policy is that they have to send someone out. The system - the police policy - perpetuates the racism.
https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/5/30/17406092/race-911-white-lady-calls-police-on-black-family-bbq-oakland
The man gave me his address and then said, Theres a woman pushing a shopping cart in front of my house. This one stumped me. I worked in a large metropolitan area. Yes, the city where I worked was affluent, and most people used their cars to get groceries. But surely hed seen a person using a personal grocery cart before.
Im sorry, Im not getting it. Whats the problem? I waited for more clarification as I racked my brain for the correct penal code under which this infraction might fall.
You need to get out here now.
(snip)
The worst thing about it? I had to send someone out. Dispatchers usually dont get to choose which calls lead to the dispatching of emergency personnel and which dont.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Often I think the US sucks, but I guess most places do. Many humans are really really strange and weird.
Ohiogal
(32,091 posts)and wonder how we have so many ugly, fucked up, racist, bigots in this country who live in fear.
Corvo Bianco
(1,148 posts)The police reviewed the video tape and saw a black man walk into the bank and talk to one of our loan officers just the way white dudes do all day long. The police explained that the alarm is for armed robberies only, but had no guts to ask what my boss was afraid of. Good ol Utah.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)You will never know how many lives you have saved.
I could never so your job. The first racist asswipe I encountered would have ended my career immediately.
I cannot understand why people call 911 over trivial matters. After all, the first thing you hear from the 911 Dispatcher is "Please state the nature of your emergency." Yes, emergency. Not your anxiety, your argument with your neighbor over their stereo, their dog pooping in your yard, their drunk Uncle pissing in the bushes or your racist paranoia. I think people who make these kinds of nonsense, time-wasting calls, tying up the 911 Dispatchers' precious time should be hit with "nuisance" citations.
We should pass some form of financial penalty to people who make non-emergency calls to 911. I would hate to think that a legitimate call for medical assistance about a heart attack victim is behind the call from someone bitching that the paper boy failed to land the paper on their doorstep.
Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)In NC it had to be a clear cut case where the person couldnt argue they legitimately thought they were in danger even if they were wrong.
So usually it was used for the repeated callers with nonsense or the drunks who called.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)We prioritize so low, it takes forever to respond and the case is cleared.
We also say, no because this is a civil case. I have no idea why they claim they can't refuse service cause we can. However on certain live calls, suspicions persons/cars then we will send someone out. Depends on what the citizens are saying.
I worked 911 for over 8 years, both police and EMS. Our judgement was good and I never gotten written up, nor did I give a citizen bad information. Might not like the answer, but thems the breaks.
Lee-Lee
(6,324 posts)When I was a deputy on call such as stuff that was clearly a civil matter they would advise them that it was likely a civil matter and that a deputy couldnt do anything, but still send us if requested. Policy was everyone who wanted a response got one, calls like that got it eventually.
I have friends who work in big cities where they dont even respond to burglary calls anymore, unless its in progress. If its already occurred they direct them to a website to make a report that they can give the insurance company and thats it.
It all varies by where you are.
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)... the right-wing Boogeyman of the day is