IWA For Sunday 012008

Hey folks,

It’s Sunday Time for the IWA. This weeks winner deserves whatever she gets. According to AOL News -911 Operator Guilty of Blowing Off Call.

DETROIT (Jan. 18) - A jury convicted a 911 operator Friday of willful neglect of duty after authorities said she didn't take seriously a boy's calls to report his mother had collapsed. The mother was found dead three hours after the first call.

The misdemeanor charge against Sharon Nichols is punishable by up to a year in jail. She will be sentenced March 11.

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Lora Weingarden said she was more than satisfied with the verdict.

I hope that it makes every 911 operator in the city and across the country think real hard before dismissing a call as a prank, Weingarden said outside the courtroom.

She said the case marks the first time nationally that a 911 operator has been charged with a crime for mishandling a phone call, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Nichols, 45, testified she could not hear the then-5-year-old boy on the other end of the line. Authorities said Robert Turner called 911 twice on Feb. 20, 2006, to report his mother had passed out.

Robert, now 7, testified that Nichols hung up on him and accused him of playing games.

Police found Sherrill Turner, 46, dead three hours after the first call. A wrongful death lawsuit against the city argues Sherrill Turner, who had an enlarged heart, would have survived if help had been sent immediately.

Nichols and her attorney, Cornelius Pitts, left the courthouse without commenting.

Charges were dismissed Wednesday against operator Terri Sutton, who took the boy's second call. She was accused of ignoring protocol by requesting police instead of emergency personnel.

Judge Paula Humphries said Sutton may have been rude but there was no evidence of willful neglect.

How could you possibly know if a call is a prank or not? You cannot see the person on the other end. I know for a fact, having dealt with it in the past, that even if 911 is dialed by accident, most 911 operators will send someone out to check. Because of this operator’s negligence, she may very well have cost this boy’s Mothers life.

Congratulations Ms. Nichols, for not taking your job seriously, you ARE the Idiot of the Week. I think this goes without saying, but, you should probably re-thing the type of employment you take on when you get out.
Peter