The recordings below are the dispatch tapes from the Hartford Department of Emergency Services Dispatch Center regarding the shots fired call at 321 Linnmore Street in Hartford Monday night. Subsequently , after officers missed locating the body on Monday night, the second recordings are of the calls notifying dispatchers of the dead body in their yard.
Now I know that answering these phone calls and trying to pull information out of frantic callers is difficult, but is hanging up on the caller before you even obtain a correct address for a shooting the correct action? Listen to the original call and when the resident is reluctant to giver her name, the dispatcher hangs up on her. Also note that all the dispatcher had at that point was Linnmore Street, no specific address, nothing.
How do you not keep the caller on the line and gather as much information as possible, even an intersection or cross street to narrow it down. "OK,Bye"is not a suitable response. But I guess it was just a shooting .
Maybe it's just me but I hear the first caller tell the calltaker its 311 Mountain, just a little bit up. The caller says they heard gunshots and saw nothing. I would hate to have the call taker spend valuable time on a reluctant caller who saw nothing than answer the next phone which could provide more info or possibly be the victim calling for help. The caller on the next day tells the calltaker that the Police were out there for over an hour and SHE pointed out the area were the shots were fired. I'll admit 911 workers are human and make many mistakes but I think that on this occasion contact was made and the Police spent an hour on scene by the reporting parties own admission. How the missed the body is an open question. Nothing says that the victim made an effort to hide from the Police and succumbed to his wounds after they left. It is after all an open investigation and why potential evidentiary tape recordings were released is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteThe reference to Mountain and Linnmore was the following morning, the caller the night of the incident was hung up on and then police were dispatched to the wrong address. There is probably no question that a timely response was beyond futile if it had occurred. The victim was shot in the heart and his aorta was severed so probably dead within one or two steps if even that. But how many mistakes are we willing to just write off . And are you trying to say that there is only one person capable of answering calls in there so they should be rushing through?
ReplyDeleteListening to the tapes I am very impressed with the dispatcher who takes the call from a teacher the next morning and stays on the line until Fire dept. arrives. That dispatcher obviously stayed on out of concern for the caller and helped calm her down.
ReplyDeleteAs for the dispatchers the night of the gunshots - very unimpressed. None of them took time to even thank the callers for calling in. and the one who hung up? Well the address was given earlier in the call but still the dispatcher seemed very detached and unprofessional.
A little bit of kindness and human compassion goes a long way. People calling 911 are concerned, afraid and uncertain of what to do. Some are reluctant to call 911 or get involved in the neighborhood. When someone takes the initiative to call in they should be treated kindly and compassionately. At the very least they should hear "thank you for calling this in, police are responding and if you hear or see anything else please call again immediately."
Exactly, "ok, bye" click is not what I would expect to hear on a shooting call
ReplyDeleteWho is posting information from the pd on an open n active investigation? Unreal !!!
ReplyDeleteanonymous 12:47am,
ReplyDeletethe recordings were obtained through a lawful FOI request and myself and just about every other media organization were given the audio files earlier today. And as far as an ongoing investigation, what in those recordings would compromise any information regarding the investigation?
That is the question, why are they being released during an open investigation? Correct me if I am wrong but I thought things are sealed during an open investigation and are not allowed to be FOI'd til it is closed. Regardless of what type of information is in the recording.
ReplyDeleteAlso to the person posting at 5:12 people are not reluctant, scared, etc to call 911, I have been sent on calls that came in 911 that are borderline miss-using a 911 system.
and Kevin, the reference to Mountain and Linnmore was not until the next morning. Caller 2 on the night of the shooting says in that area. The address 321 Linnmore is not said til the morning the body is found.
IT IS VERY EASY TO MONDY NIGHT QUARTERBACK. THE DISPTATCHER GOT THE INFO NEEDED FROM CALLER THE CALLER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER SHE COULD PROVIDE. OK BUT NOT THE BEST REPLY BUT ALSO IS NOT A HANG UP OR "RUDE". THE CALLER WAS NOT ALL THAT EASY THERE WA ALOT OF YELLING AND OTHER FACTORS AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE OTHER CALLS COMING IN? IF SHE WONTGIVE INFORMATION IS THE WORKER DISPATCHER WHOEVER SUPPOSED TO STAY ON PHONE TO BE CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED ? ALSO I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT THE DISPATCHER WAS NOT RUDE ANYTIME WITH THE CALLER UNTIL THE HANG UP ..SO SHE DID NOT THANK HER ..REALLY. AND BROOKMAN SORRY DID YOU HEAR 323 BECAUSE IM HARD PRESSED WITH THE YELLING TO SAY I HEARD THIRTY SOMETHING. AGAIN BECAUSE YOU DONT LKE THE OK THANKS YOU WANT TO SAY CALL WAS HANDLED INCORRECTLY ? I DONT SEE THAT. WAS THE LAST COMMENT THE BEST .BUT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE ADDRESS SOUNDED LIKE THIRTHY SOMETHING. NOW YOU MAKE A WHOLE ANOTHER AGENDA JEEZUZ YOU LOVE THE DRAMA!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Hartford have enhanced 911 shouldn't the callers name and address come up as soon as the call comes in?
ReplyDeleteTo comment on the last. Was the call placed from a land line or cell phone ? Unlike what you and the vast majority of citizens that watch csi and are mis informed believe its not gps pinpoint .lol
ReplyDeleteWhen they did the tours of the center the screens shows the cell phone that came in with lat and long and cell towers and only land line with addresses. So no Mr. Brookman you enchanced 911 comment is misplaced here.
You would have thought with all your commenting on these subjects you would have taken the time to know what it is your speaking on? You do speak like you are an authority on the matters at hand but really ?
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ReplyDeleteit is called a rhetorical question, I already knew the answer. And no matter how much you and your fellow dispatchers try to justify the actions , it isn't going to work. There have been far too many screw-ups in that Dispatch Center that have adversely affected the life and safety of Hartford's residents. Did you forget the woman that was left rotting in her house for months because of a dispatch error? It is time for Mr. Jaffee to take his first retirement deal and go back to Suffield. There is no place for him and his mismanagement in Hartford mismanagement. People's lives depend on that Dispatch Center
To previous commenters who keep defending the indefensible, the dispatch handling, on all calls in the first tape the night of shooting, was deficient. That isn't an attack on the dispatch workers. Its management's failure to have proper protocols and oversight consistently in place. If people don't understand the significance of 911 dispatchers needing to be thorough and reassuring to callers in a city there is a bigger problem. In a hectic situation dispatchers have to take the time to get and relay accurate info, like an address for the police. If they aren't able to get the address (which is clearly said early on in that same call) they should attempt to call back the number the call came from. Not say ok bye.
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ReplyDeleteHad an opportunity to listen to both tapes. Tape one, it was obvious that the dispatcher was rude, the upset frantic caller, was very upset also, but to me, she did sound like she said that she was calling from 311 Linnmoore, and that it was further down from her house, the dispatcher was indeed out of line, yes, the caller was hysterically yelling, but, the dispatcher didn't bother to take the time to listen on, because she didn't want to give her name,the dispatcher has no idea how fearful it is to hear that many shots outside your doors and not know whats going on; especially if you have young children in the house.Do you think that you want to give your name, when the shooters are still out there. I am not concern about her not thanking her, I am more concern on how she handle the call. This is her job and she should take it more seriously. In public service, there is no need to be rude. Be part of the solution, open your ears and try to decipher the cause of the problem,
Because the poor judgement of the first dispatcher, that had zero patient to deal with the call. This poor young man laid out there bleeding to death.
Was her name really that important at that momment??? I don't think so, she should have just focus in obtaining the location rather then the persons name. I am sure that she was not the only dispatcher answering the phone lines that evening. I am sorry but she was out of line. Especially when you are trying to be a law abiding citizen. You have to be respectful at all times, not every caller handles these types of situation in the same manner.
The second caller (10;18pm), clearly stated that the shots were in a one block radius on Linnmoore and Mountain st. She is also the next morning caller (7am) that makes the discovery and then gives a more precises location of where the body is located. At least the morning dispatcher try to get more details from the caller whom is very upset. I live in this area and the location where this incident happens is the darker side of Linnmoore street as there are several trees and it is not well lit. It's very sad that a young man was left out there to die when calls were made, perhaps the victim would have had a chance to survive. But due to poor judgement. Another life is gone before his time.
And now for the policemen that came out to check, you guys were also not paying attention, you didn't do a very thorough investigation, you didn't even bother to check around. I am sure you are familiar with the area. HPD needs to start doing their jobs as required, this could have been one of their brother, or son. Would they have like for him to be left out there to die. Very sad ending for all that were involved. Insensitive dispatcher, poor police work, scared residents, a dead young man and a sad family. Another murder to Hartford's list.
The dispatcher from the morning call deserves a raise. What is her name? It takes a special person to keep that calm, and patient, with such an extremely emotional caller. I understand it's her job to be that way, but I can't imagine it's very easy--I definitely caught myself yelling at my computer, like "Andrea" could hear me, when she started getting snippy with the dispatcher!
ReplyDeleteIn response to anonymous August 17, 2013 at 6:49 PM
ReplyDeleteYes it is sad that another life is lost in Hartford. It is sad that the dispatcher hung up on a person who was afraid to get involved. It is sad that the opportunity to gather additional information from the caller was cut short due to bad dispatching. It is sad that the officers did not find the man in the shadows as he lay dead or dying.
Now what is sad is that you think that the police would look harder for their children or anyone’s children differently. Let’s add on to the fact that most normal people would not be out at that time of night and our children would be home in bed or under a watchful eye of both parents. Let’s not forget that no one in the sleepy neighborhood called the police to complain about someone outside before the shooting??? If you walk into my neighborhood you will be challenged. You will be watched and if you don’t live there or have pertinent business there I and my neighbors will ask you to leave before the shooting starts. We call the police and take action before there is a problem. We have embraced our street our town and we are watchful. We leave our name and number when we call the police.
Police are just good citizens who are paid and well-armed. Stop saying it is someone else’s fault that this kid was shot??? How about the guy who shot him?????? Does he have no place for your anger or distain? I can’t believe that you immediately find fault with the police who come to help you because they did not measure up to your TV view of what should have been done. I am sure Ken Kennedy would scream loud if the police asked for night vision or thermal imagers to use to find dead bodies or wounded citizens like the police on TV.
I watched the news tonight and I saw common citizens in the streets of Cairo Egypt. They banded together and armed themselves with sticks to protect their neighborhood against the muslim brotherhoods call for a day of rage. They took a stand and drew a line in the sand so to speak. They were willing to step up to the plate and fight back for peace. You are only willing to complain from afar.
Makes me think of a quote from a movie I recently saw
“You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like "honor", "code", and “loyalty". We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!”
Mr. Brookman – Are you going to take action or just post on this blog. Will you run for election? Or will you continue to be a guy that complains. You’re pretty good at gathering information and finding things out and getting things moving. Seems to me you have a large following on here also. Maybe more than the total number of Hartford residents who voted in the last election? I know that there are many people who work live and play in the big little city of Hartford that could use a change or a guy in a white hat to ride in and save the place. Or maybe to give the Chief of Police the tools and proper resources he needs to get the job done. I guess only time will tell.
Everyone can Monday morning quarterback I cannot speak for dispatch thats a issue on its own but to say the police did not do their job is just BS first off they were dispatched to the wrong address 39 Linmoore Street in which if a canvass was done there and citizens were talked to I'm sure that would take up an amount of time and even then they were dispatched to 323 inmoore Street which was still the wrong address. Now Kevin you are resourceful do youre homework, where exactly was the body??? talk to the homocide and evidence detectives was the body in plain veiw??? it was behind a 8 foot closed fence with absolutley no evidence on the street or sidewalk no citizens came up to the police officers no answer on the call back the officers did a thorough search and they documented the incident. Now lets talk about the deceased whom i understand was no Mary Poppins the public is acting like someone's grandmother was left there overnight, that guy was responsible for two murders out of hartford and West hartford PD was doing an arrest warrant for murder for this scum bag as well. Secondly did anybody ever consider that maybe his body was'nt even there when officers arrived?? The streets are always talking maybe the killers took his body with him after they shot him and after the officers left they brought his body back. Kevin talk to major crimes Men Lie Women Lie the evidence doesn't
ReplyDeleteI am a tax payer off Hartford and have had to call 911 before myself and YES I find that the dispatcher was rude but listen to the first call the caller clearly states she lives at 311 and its a few houses up. She also states she did not not see nor hear anything else. So I ask what other information were they to gather? My guess is that their were other 911 calls that were coming in at that time which could of been the party shot or a person who witnessed the shooting or info on its aftermath. As a citizen I would rather them take those calls which could lead to a possible arrest and get a murderer off the streets. But also listening to the time stamps I do not hear a delay in response from time of the 1st call to time of the officers dispatch.
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ReplyDeleteTO: Anonymous said... August 17, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Since when is it against the law to walk any streets in Hartford or anywhere in CT or in the USA. Who in the right mind would ask anyone passing by, "what are you doing on this street?" This is a free country. People have the freedom to go anywhere; none the less walk to any where, with out being judged or harassed. Also, who sits in their front windows watching the people go by and deciding whether they belong there or not. Well probably you. If you re-read my comment, I did stated that "I live in this area and the location where this incident happens is the darker side of Linnmoore Street as there are several trees and it is not well lit."
I do not know where you live and can care less, but it is obvious that it must not be Hartford, as you yourself clearly stated, "If you walk into my neighborhood you will be challenged. You will be watched and if you don’t live there or have pertinent business there I and my neighbors will ask you to leave before the shooting starts."
People like you are the ones that would take matters into their own hands. I am sure that you would shoot first and ask question later. Man you are quite an interesting fella, scary to say the least and a danger to society.
Never did I blame anyone for the shooting of the young man. Only the one who shot him, knows why he did it. The first caller was only trying to do what a good citizen would have done at that time, she didn't want to give her name knowingly that the shooters were still out there. She had her rights to remain anonymous.The second caller was just as concern as the first, the different between the two was that the first caller was extremely nervous, and the second caller kept her composure.
I still stand by my comment, I still believe that the dispatcher was rude and dispatch the policemen to the wrong address, and the policemen did a poor investigation, just a poor judgement. Besides the point, both the policemen and the dispatcher have a very difficult job to do. I know first hand as I do have a relative that is a policeman and I have full respect for all of them. Some policemen are just better then others. And it is a known fact that in some cases when you are from the upper class, you get better preferences. But these doesn't even come into this case because no one knew nothing about the victim until the next morning,which was Tuesday. The incident happen around 10pm, on Monday night.
Besides the point, your quote from the movie and the comment about Egypt has nothing to do with this case scenario. I didn't see any comparison to this situation.
Not every young man who gets murder come from dysfunctional homes, some just hang out with the wrong groups and make poor decisions. Our big issue here is the guns, they are getting into the wrong hands. This is and will continue to be an issue until tougher laws are written for guns. Most of these guns used in the street are stolen from homes. People who have guns should lock them in a safe place where the curious minds can not get a hold of them.
The bottom line is that no matter how many policemen are out on our streets, crime will always happen. There are thugs out there that wants to be tough guys who have no respect for other human beings, their parents or authorities.
I just want to say something about the dispatcher who took the first call. Was she rude? In some peoples opinion yes others maybe no. What I think is she realized that she wasn't going to be able to get anymore information from the caller and maybe knowing other 911 calls were coming in she thought she would be able to get more information such as a description of the shooter or vehicle involved or where the victim is. That's the information we want responding to calls like that so if that was her intentions then I support her. What I was told is that it is a policy for the dispatchers to ask for names from callers and to my surprise they have a quota to meet on answering 911 calls by the third ring I guess the State comes out every month with a percentage of what 911 centers answer the quickest. I heard either Jaffee or the second in charge came out with a memo saying they want the 911 picked up by the third ring no matter what so dispatchers rush their callers which makes no sense. My other comment about the Dispatch Center it should go back being supervised by Sergeants using the code of conduct for discipline. You never heard of these problems when the PD had control of Dispatch. They need to clean house starting Jaffee and All his management staff.
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