The something In the car was a water bottle. They said they tried calling 911 and kept getting put on hold and had already pulled into the neighborhood when they finally stopped.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
Post by RoxMonster on May 26, 2015 23:02:02 GMT -5
Man, this could have ended so, so horribly. I still think you need to call the police and file a report/tell them what happened. This kid should not be out there just carrying on after he threatened two people with a gun (and might possibly have one).
Does 911 put people on hold? Doesn't that defeat their whole purpose?
They do put people on hold. They also sometimes don't answer or the line us busy! i called once and it rang and rang so I hung up. And a few minutes later they called me back!
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
They got put on hold with 911? Does that really happen?
Yes. 911 is run by people and people make mistakes.
It's very rare and that's why we hear about it on the news, occasionally. Because it's the exception.
If an operator is ever not taking someone seriously, you hang up and call back right away. Then after the emergency has passed, you report the unhelpful operator to the proper people.
Yes, this is true. People DO get put on hold occasionally when they call 911. I just dont believe that two girls who call 911 screaming and crying "HE HAS A GUN!" will be put on hold more than once, which is what the OP said allegedly happened.
No idea where OP lives, but 911 absolutely does put people on hold. It's not a rare or new thing but I'm sure the frequency of it depends where you live. There was a a story on the news last week about it being a problem in my area.
ETA: I just saw somebody say she's in Houston? Uh, yeah. Emergency services in Houston are pretty damn busy right now. This doesn't surprise me at all.
I don't even know where to post an intro here! I was on TK/TN/TB since 2003, mostly local boards. I was m_and_m.
"I speak without reservation from what I know and who I am. I do so with the understanding that all people should have the right to offer their voice to the chorus whether the result is harmony or dissonance. The worldsong is a colorless dirge without the differences that distinguish us, and it is that difference that should be celebrated not condemned." -Ani Difranco
Does 911 put people on hold? Doesn't that defeat their whole purpose?
They do put people on hold. They also sometimes don't answer or the line us busy! i called once and it rang and rang so I hung up. And a few minutes later they called me back!
Huh. I mean, I completely understand how it could happen. It's operated by humans, there are only so many, if they have a lot of calls, etc. I have only had to call 911 a few times and not had that issue; I would be terrified if I called and was put on hold!
They got put on hold with 911? Does that really happen?
Yes. 911 is run by people and people make mistakes.
It's very rare and that's why we hear about it on the news, occasionally. Because it's the exception.
If an operator is ever not taking someone seriously, you hang up and call back right away. Then after the emergency has passed, you report the unhelpful operator to the proper people.
It's not just in error. Sometimes there simply aren't enough operators to handle all the calls. Typically, they get bumped to another call center, but sometimes even the overflow options are too busy.
You should never hang up without speaking to someone after calling 911. Then they have to find out what number for called from and call you back. If they can't reach you, they must send police to the location from which the call was placed. It's a drain on their time and resources and someone else might not get the quickest response because they were dealing with tracking you down.
Seriously, this is absolutely NOT THE TIME to be potentially using a concealed handgun license. Call the cops and let them do their jobs, and don't potentially put you, your husband, your daughter, and her friend in the middle of a gunfight. You realize you all could have been killed if he did in fact have a gun? A CHP and being an ex marine guarantees nothing.
Eta: to be fair I'm sure emergency services are busy right now with all the flooding and stuff, but I'd still think they wouldn't put someone reporting gun threats would be put on hold
No worries. A Mama Bear diffused the situation. Everything is good in the 'hood now.
mama bears are so helpful. I brought one with me when I needed to meet with my insurance agent after a car accident. her fur was very soft. so soothing.
I'm bringing one with me to small claims court next week.
It's not just in error. Sometimes there simply aren't enough operators to handle all the calls. Typically, they get bumped to another call center, but sometimes even the overflow options are too busy.
You should never hang up without speaking to someone after calling 911. Then they have to find out what number for called from and call you back. If they can't reach you, they must send police to the location from wig the call was placed. It's a drain on their time and resources and someone else might not get the quickest response because they were dealing with tracking you down.
Sorry.. I meant it was an error that if you called 911 and were screaming "This guy has a gun!" and the operator put you on hold to attend to someone that wanted to report a car alarm going off for the 9th time, it probably was a human error.
I don't know the ins and outs of 911, but I was told that if I was in an absolute life and death emergency, and 911 failed to understand that right away, to hang up and call back and get an operator that did understand.
I've toured two 911 centers as part of my job when I was working, so that's how I knew about the rolling-over of calls. Different areas handle it differently; some answer the call and triage and handle what they can, others are answered on a first-come basis, with the remaining unanswered calls getting bumped automatically to an overflow center or automated hold recording.
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny
DD knew to get to our neighborhood is cracking me up. I'm picturing some Dukes of Hazard style driving here, followed by her rolling from the car and army crawling to safety.
I called 911 when my dad drove drunk. I called on my cell phone and they kept transferring me. I'm not sure if it's because I was on a cell phone and the towers weren't pinpointing me accurately or what. Finally I got to the right police department and they kept asking if I was SURE I wanted to give them the info because if they find him they will arrest him with a tone like I was a jerk for reporting my dad. It was all around weird.
I assume if I called to report someone threatening someone else with a gun the process would have been expedited a little. At least I hope so.
DD knew to get to our neighborhood is cracking me up. I'm picturing some Dukes of Hazard style driving here, followed by her rolling from the car and army crawling to safety.
Too bad she only knew enough to get to the edge of the neighborhood before she stopped the car and got out instead of just, you know, driving home.