911 calls not answered as operators take breaks together, review shows
Caller: 'I just don't trust them'

Friday, March 24, 2006; Posted: 3:54 p.m. EST (20:54 GMT)

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (AP) -- Thousands of calls to Chattanooga's 911 call center have been going unanswered, according to records examined after a caller was unable to report a kitchen fire because three of four dispatchers were taking breaks at the same time.

Stacey Hunter and her family members called 911 from her home phone and cellular phones Monday afternoon when the fire broke out, but the calls went unanswered. Finally, Artterius Bonds, and 14-year-old nephew, Quayshaune Fountain, ended up running a half mile to get help from the fire station. No one was hurt.

"If they hadn't gone running, my house would have completely burned up," Hunter, 34, said as she stood in her scorched kitchen.

Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks, who oversees employees of the Hamilton County Emergency Communications District, said the department was responsible for the unanswered calls.

One dispatcher was taking calls and three others working the shift were taking a break, the chief said. He described the situation as an unacceptable failure of the 911 system.

But records indicate the problem is more widespread.

During one 10-month period, from January to October 2005, about 27,000 calls to city dispatchers at the 911 center went unanswered, police spokesman Tetzell Tillery said. Last month 20 percent -- about 2,000 -- of more than 10,650 calls placed were not answered, he said.

Officials said the count includes numerous caller hang-ups and repeated calls.

On Monday, records show there were 22 unanswered calls to the 911 service in the 27-minute period when the fire was burning. Six came from Hunter's residence.

"You've got four people supposed to be dispatching and three people on break. I can't still digest that," Hunter said.
Personnel shortage 'causing problems'

Police said there are 68 communications positions, with two added in the last fiscal year, and the center needs 78 people to be fully staffed.

The call center's oversight board said they would commission a study aimed at possibly reorganizing and consolidating call taking.

The board chairman, Hamilton County Sheriff John Cupp, said "there is a shortage of personnel and a lot of times when there is a shortage of personnel you have problems organizing things."

County commissioners and City Council members said unanswered calls were unacceptable and would be corrected. Sally Robinson, chairman of the Chattanooga City Council, said she did not realize so many calls were being missed.

"We have a responsibility to staff it to a level that makes it work, 24-7," Robinson said.

Not everyone agrees there is a staffing problem, however.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said the 911 call center has the "resources they need" and should have had more people on when Hunter's call was not answered.

The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board may ask to hear from representatives of the Hamilton County district if there is a problem with service, said Lynn Quistel, the board's executive director.

But staffing issues are a local matter, she said. Local oversight boards determine staffing levels and are not required to provide backup rollover numbers.

Bleeding man says no one came

Patrick Halley, a spokesman for Washington, D.C.-based National Emergency Numbers Association, said there are more than 6,100 911 call centers across the country and there is "no national standard as far as how long it should take" to answer a call.

The Chattanooga call center has had other problems.

Hoyt Branham, who lives in northern Hamilton County, said that in October 2004 he severed an artery in his arm while working in his shop. He called 911 in Chattanooga, told them he was bleeding profusely and provided his location. But no one showed up.

Branham, 70, said he was alone and getting weak, so he called neighbors and his daughter ended up taking him to the hospital. He said 911 operators later denied that he called, but a review of their recording equipment showed he did.

"I just don't trust them," Branham said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/24/tennessee.911.ap/index.html

Nope, no law abiding citzen needs a gun for protection, they can just pick up the phone and call understaffed 911 call center where 20% of all calls for help will go completely unanswered, and if they're one of the lucky few who were able to get through, they still have to find a way to survive the more than 6 minute average national response time of the police.

Where was it that 9-1-1 operators were fired after shown to not answer calls because they were sleeping? Memphis?

Quoted: Where was it that 9-1-1 operators were fired after shown to not answer calls because they were sleeping? Memphis?

I do not think it was here. May have been a while back.  Our 911 call takers/dispatchers are pretty good.  They are severely understaffed, overworked, and have a very high attrition rate.  It is a job you couldn’t pay me to do. The city and county know the system is broken but will not do anything about it.  

And a 6-minute response time is if you are lucky.  I have seen calls hold for hours when we get busy.

Looks like it happened again yesterday, a vacant motel burned and locals are reporting nobody answered 911.  The mayor is supposed to be coming on local morning FM talk radio (102.3) later this week to discuss the issue.

www.wgow.com

Quoted: Quoted: Where was it that 9-1-1 operators were fired after shown to not answer calls because they were sleeping? Memphis? I do not think it was here. May have been a while back.

Yeah, it was a year or two ago. Hell, it may have been Nashville???? It was one of the two, I'm thinking????

Well,I guess they all know it is me making people call 911 so they go unanswered.
Ya know,it was fun the first couple of hundred times when I was out running naked through the neighberhood and I'd hear the sirens and see the flashing lights.
Now though,when I'm out for my early morning streak and no body cares,it's juts not as fun....

Quoted: Now though,when I'm out for my early morning streak and no body cares

Shrinkage in cold weather is a terrible thing, ain't it??????    

people in the city of memphis dont understand what 911 is for. not toothaches,a way to get grandma out of the house, get a ride to the other side of town I mean its sad to see someone walk to a unit with a suitcase on a call for a heart attack and say  Im ok  I just need to get to central ave.

Quoted: people in the city of memphis dont understand what 911 is for. not toothaches,a way to get grandma out of the house, get a ride to the other side of town I mean its sad to see someone walk to a unit with a suitcase on a call for a heart attack and say  Im ok  I just need to get to central ave.

Thats not just memphis thats everywhere, around here we have a problem with folks calling 911, and get there and nothings wrong and find out they were just wanting attention, someone to tell their problems too or just to have company, mostly elderly do it, and drunks Lots of calls