Firefighter Tells 911 Caller To 'Deal With It Yourself' As Teen Dies, New Audio Reveals

[jpak]

Source: Huffington Post

An investigation is underway after a New Mexico firefighter dismissively hung up on a caller reporting a shooting that led to the death of a local teenager.

Firefighter Matthew Sanchez was on dispatch duty last month when he got a call about the shooting of Albuquerque high schooler Jaydon Chavez-Silver, 17. The teen was at a house with around 10 other people when someone shot at the house five times, KRQE reports, striking and eventually killing Chavez-Silver.

In audio first obtained by KRQE last Monday, a 911 caller, clearly distraught, can be heard saying she is trying to give the victim CPR .

Sanchez asks if the boy is breathing. The caller says "barely," and can be heard encouraging Chavez-Silver to "stay with me."

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-mexico-firefighter-911-caller_55b791b4e4b0224d8833cef0

[tblue]

1. OH MY FREAKING GOSH!!!!

Beyond the pale. That man is guilty of something close to murder. He must be arrested and tried like every other alleged criminal.

[kristopher]

2. What an arrogant scumbag.

[Xithras]

3. 911 operators regularly hang up on people for being abusive.

It's actually illegal to curse or be verbally abusive to a 911 operator, and there have been cases where people have even been arrested for it (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5615113). Most of the time, the operators will simply hang up on you if you get confrontational with them. If this operator is disciplined at all (which I doubt), it will be for his attitude, and not for hanging up. They aren't required to help you, but hey are required to be respectful.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. If 911 operators aren't required to help, what are they there for?

It seems like this guy was more upset that the women said "fucking" than that somebody was in urgent need of medical care.

This guy needs to be fired.

[Charles de Gaudless]

17. Fired at the very least!

Personally, I think reply #1 had the right idea! Prosecute his uncaring ass!

[demigoddess]

18. obviously he isn't cut out to do this job

his ego counted more than his responsibility to help someone like he was supposed to.

[geek tragedy]

6. "they aren't required to help you." Wha??????????? nt

[cstanleytech]

12. They just take reports of an incident and then dispatch people they also might offer advice

but they dont have stay on the phone probably if someones becomes abusive towards them just like anyone else who works call center doesnt have to stay on the line if someone abusive.
Is that applicable in this? No, I dont believe the person was abusive I think they were just clearly frustrated and the operator handled it poorly to say the least.

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. The case you cite shows the asshole 911 operator getting punished.

[Alkene]

4. I would hope I would make allowances of profanity...

from someone who was witnessing their friend dying in their arms.

I would hope my precious ego would understand their panic.

Sanchez didn't. How cheap life must seem to him.

[lillypaddle]

7. I don't even know what to say anymore

the fucking world has gone bat shit crazy. SMDH.

[GliderGuider]

9. ^^^ That :-(

[SoapBox]

10. Fire this dick.

He can hang up? When it may result in death? Really?

That's BULLSHIT!

[fbc]

15. Sounds like a good candidate for the police force.

Callousness in regards to human life? check.
Putting the need for respect before his duty? check

[EEO]

11. Disgusting.

That this kid had to listen to an outright piece of slime as one of the last people he would ever hear.

[Kurska]

13. Why on earth was a firefighter on 911 dispatch?

911 dispatchers are supposed to be trained to deal with a situation like this (gravely serious situation where someone is getting understandably belligerent).

I doubt firefighters have that kind of training. Why is a firefighter answering calls about a freaking shooting?

[BumRushDaShow]

14. 25 years ago

this came out -

[elias7]

16. As a health professional,

one of the most difficult things to do is to not be affected by people yelling at you, swearing at you, or being seemingly aggressive or abusive. As you might expect, this is a manifestation of fear or pain and not meant personally, but it is not easy, especially if the dispatcher is inexperienced. That being said, it is not remotely acceptible to hang up in this situation, not call an ambulance, not give advise about applying pressure to wounds and giving CPR.

[Skittles]

19. I had wondered

surely first responders are trained to understand how people can behave during crises

[elias7]

22. They are trained, but experience is key

Until you've been cursed at, yelled at, and blamed for bad shit a few times, it can really take you by surprise. But even with experience and training, it never feels good, and you really need to stay on top of your emotions, as it is easy to react badly to being attacked or abused when trying to help.

Fortunately, that type of behavior is not the norm.

But frankly, I don't understand how anyone, even if inexperienced, could hang up on a call like that. That person should not be taking 911 calls.

[Blue_Tires]

20. With that kind of indifference, no wonder

Albuquerque's crime rate is sky-high...

A couple of years ago a friend of mine got an opportunity to move there with a promotion and a 30% salary increase, and she said NFW...

[brooklynite]

21. UPDATE - 911 operator resigns

New Mexico firefighter who hung up on frantic 911 caller resigns

An Albuquerque, New Mexico firefighter who hung up on a frantic 911 caller attempting to save the life of a 17-year-old gunshot victim has resigned, according to media reports.

The firefighter, Matthew Sanchez, was working in the city’s dispatch center when he received a call from a woman who said her friend was “dying”. The firefighter hung up after the woman snapped at him, saying: “I’m not going to deal with this, OK?”

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/29/new-mexico-911-firefighter-resigns