Baker said Thursday that Donna Reneau was working her final shift Aug. 24, when Debra Stevens died. The woman's call was answered by dispatcher Donna Reneau (pictured above), who was working her last shift as a 911 operator after she resigned earlier this month. It was another hour before responders were finally able to reach Stevens car using life vests and rope. She was not criminally charged in the death of 47-year-old Debra Stevens'. "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. 4.41am: Fire department is dispatched to the scene. Baker acknowledged Reneau would have faced disciplinary action if she still worked with the department but said he couldn't see anything that would have been cause for termination or a criminal investigation. Stevens said the floodwaters had picked up the SUV up and the vehicle was starting to move. Dispatcher Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift because she was quitting, abused the poor woman. Luke Kenton For Dailymail.com But what we want to do is not lose sight of the fact first responders were dispatched, the call was bumped in priority, and as much effort was done by our first responders to get to her," Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken said. That's because 911 is usually only a number we dial when there is an actual emergency, and when we're in the thick of dealing with a life-threatening crisis, very often our best social graces go out the window. Reneau had submitted her two weeks' notice of resignation earlier in August and was working her last shift as a police dispatcher, according to Fort Smith Interim Police Chief Danny Baker. 5.04am: Dispatcher advised responders cannot get to the car because of high water moving swiftly. Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. 'I have worked at the FSPD for almost 5 yrs now and truly care about my job and the people I talk to on a daily basis', Reneau says. Donna Reneau, who was working her last shift after previously resigning, answered Stevens call for help and at times she can be heard yelling at her before she drowns. "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water," Reneau said. All of our first responders who attempted to save Mrs. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. In the video above: Severe floodwaters hit Arkansas Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >> But seven months later, she would become known for telling drowning woman Debra Stevens to "shut up". 5.00am: 911 call is disconnected between caller and dispatch. Thank you for your dedicated service Donna'! "She said, 'Please come help me, pull me out of the water, I'm stranded and I don't want to die today. She's under water now'. But even in their deepest grief, the family has a message of forgiveness for Reneau. 11K views 3 years ago August 24th Debra Stevens called 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. Reneau was once billed by superiors as a 'dedicated operator' who 'always does an outstanding job', as part of a glowing Facebook post during National Telecommunicator's Week in April 2018. Police in Fort Smith, Arkansas have issued an apology after a state. 11 Strict Rules That Elon Musk Makes His Girlfriends & Wives Follow, Justin Bieber Suspected As The Father Of Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign (Instead Of Scott Disick), Why Kate Moss Was 'Scared' & 'Couldn't Get Out Of Bed For Weeks' After Working With Mark Wahlberg. Stevens later drowned. 'You're not going to die. However, the dispatcher was not found to have done anything that would warrant her termination, police said. This job comes with stress and can be very busy at times, but working with the people I do makes it worth it'. She's a former 911 dispatcher who used to save lives with her calls daily. Absolutely', he said. 4.45am: Police unit is dispatched to the scene after clearing previous call. At one point, amid Stevens' cries and pleas for help, Reneau told her, "You're not gonna die, I don't know why you're freaking out ", "Well this will teach you, next time don't drive in the water," Reneau responds. 'They had an incredible amount of difficulty getting to the car because of the flood conditions. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. Will you do the same? Police acknowledged the 911 call sounded 'calloused and uncaring at times' but insisted that 'sincere efforts' were made to try and located Stevens. Unfortunately, in the process, she got trapped by flash flooding. Debbie Stevens (left) drowned on Aug. 24 while being scolded by 911 dispatcher Donna Reneau. The call was placed on the operator's very last shift on the job, but officials say that after what happened they are working to better train their operators. When you call 911, you aren't often worried about being Miss Manners. 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. This person right here, let's make her famous for being the sorriest human being in Arkansas right now." Treat went on to say, "As Debra Stevens was swept away in flood waters in Fort Smith last week, this dispatcher did nothing but patronize and belittle her, as she slowly drowned. Miss Debbie' before saying 'Oh my god. So calm down'. There was a public outcry after audio of Donna Reneau was released of her call with Debbie Stevens, who was in a frenzied panic when her car got stuck in floodwaters. She was later found dead. At one point, Stevens got frantic and had this exchange with the dispatcher. 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. The family of a woman who drowned while . The family of a woman who drowned while a 911 operator appeared to mock her say they are appalled by the handling of her emergency, but they forgive the operator. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. (KFSM) New information has been released about a former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher criticized for her interactions with a drowning woman. Im sorry maam, I didnt see it, she said. 'You're not the only one who has been stuck in the water. Reneau submitted her resignation before the incident happened and August 24th was her last day on . I'm horribly sorry that it wasn't possible'. The audio of the 911 call was. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. 4.38am: 911 call received. Sopranos star John Ventimiglia's daughter Odele dead at 25: Family is 'heartbroken' by her passing just Boris Johnson lands 500k advance for his eagerly-awaited memoir covering his time as Prime Minister. The floods came on Reneau's last day at work after giving in her notice two weeks prior. ", The department received hundreds of phone calls saying Reneau was disrespectful for scolding Stevens as she sobbed and asked for help and for telling her this will teach you next time dont drive in the water., Debra Stevens, 47, pictured left was on her regular newspaper route when a flash flood swept up her car. Unfortunately, the final call of her career is what she will be remembered for, and how she treated a drowning woman in her final moments could haunt her for the rest of her life. Published August 31, 2019. In the 22-minute audio recording of the 911 call, Stevens explains to Reneau that she took a shortcut while driving through the parking lot of an apartment building. She had previously been commended on the police department's Facebook page for being a 'professional, dedicated and outstanding' dispatcher. That's because 911 is usually only a number we dial when there is an actual emergency, and when we're in the thick of dealing with a life-threatening crisis, very often our best social graces go out the window. 4.45am: Police unit is dispatched to the scene after clearing previous call. Third-shift supervisors do have a supervisor, but the supervisor works first-shift and Reneau said he was not available if dispatchers needed him. Baker said 911 had been inundated with calls at the time from people who were also stranded in flood waters. Police said the 911 operator had dispatched Fort Smith Fire and Police units to help Stevens but it made it difficult because she couldn't describe her exact location. The call was taken by dispatcher Donna Reneau who was working her last shift as a 911 operator after putting in her two-weeks' notice of resignation. ", Reneau also tells her at another point, "You're gonna have to shut up, OK?". 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. According to a news release from the Fort . Reneau's interactions with Stevens made national news. I dont think it would have risen to the level of terminating someone. "I've never had anything happen like this before. 'Am I not on the phone with you trying to get you some help?' I don't know why you're freaking out. Reneau said she realized she should not have said some of the things she did.. Oh Baby - two of FOX 5 DC's evening anchors announce they're pregnant. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I dont know why youre freaking out, Reneau snapped at Stevens at one point, leading to hundreds of complaints about her disrespectful response, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said. Here's what to do if it happens. Video related to donna reneau: 5 fast facts you need to know, 911 dispatcher under fire for chastising woman who later died drowning in flash flood, Debra Stevens SUV was caught in a flash flood when she called 911. iPhone users claim Apple is trying to TRICK them into Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? She also said another reason for her leaving was she felt like there was no way to "move up" within the department. 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. 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. Story continues below. Hopefully through that, there will be enhanced training.. A woman in Arkansas drowned in floodwaters shortly after getting on the phone with an emergency dispatcher who scolded her for driving during the storm. I don't know how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it. glasfiberpool installation. "We'll get you help and get you out of there." She was also heard in the call telling Stevens to "shut up.". There were other factors that contributed to what went wrong. Dispatcher begins gathering information. I'm sorry . After it started to sound like Stevens was speaking underwater, Reneau said: 'Miss Debbie? The water just didn't appear,' Reneau said. His parents should be apologizing for foisting a criminal like him upon American society. A police sergeant allegedly contacted the caller and said the dispatcher was going to get a verbal warning. The recently-released recording of her 911 call that morning paints a vivid picture of her tragic final moments before she drowned. It is not clear if Stevens' 911 call was the last one she took. But what we want to do is not lose sight of the fact first responders were dispatched, the call was bumped in priority, and as much effort was done by our first responders to get to her," Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken said. 911 dispatcher, Donna Reneau, who was working . Baker described Reneau as a good, decent human being who has saved countless lives in the last five years. ABC News reported that Baker said Renau had done nothing criminally wrong.. I don't know why you're freaking out.". . "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. Pictured above is dashcam video of authorities searching for her car. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Tue, Jan 24, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 She told Baker and Solis she was accepted into the cardiovascular Technology program at Arkansas Tech University. 5.16am: Rescue boat arrives and is launched. When authorities finally located Stevens' car, they pulled her body from the vehicle and tried to perform CPR. - 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. Reneau could be heard telling Stevens to stop crying and calm down. 5.02am: Responders report they have located the vehicle. "I don't see how you didn't see it, you had to go right over it, so.". 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. By Luke Kenton and Emily Crane For Dailymail.com, Published: 16:27 GMT, 31 August 2019 | Updated: 06:41 GMT, 23 December 2019. 'You're not going to die. 08:10 GMT 23 Dec 2019. Stevens screamed as the water level crept up inside her car, which was stranded in floodwater. 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Stevens asked Reneau if the police would take her home after she was rescued so she could care for her dogs. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime. To leave an online tribute, visitwww.edwardsfuneralhome.com. He said at the time that the police department would be investigating its policies into responses and their dispatch center in the wake of Stevens' death. 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 . The face of #EVIL #donnareneau. Reneau was on her last day as a 911 operator when the call was made, having turned in her notice two weeks earlier. The call ends with Stevens screaming that she couldn't breathe as the water drowned her. Responders begin trying to get to vehicle, donning life vests and ropes. 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