Former dispatcher cleared of wrongdoing in Debbie Stevens case
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FORT SMITH, AR (KFSM ) — A former Fort Smith 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a call with a drowning woman has been cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation.
The investigation was conducted by the Fort Smith Police Department and Fire Department.
Reports state that though operator Donna Reneau may have violated policy by being rude to Debbie Stevens at times, she had done nothing that would have warranted her termination had she still been employed with the Fort Smith Police Department.
Stevens died after her car was swept away by flash flooding on Kinkead Avenue while delivering papers on Aug. 24. Stevens called 911 before her death, and Reneau answered her call.
Stevens was the 15th call due to vehicles in floodwaters that morning, and 19 other calls were made following hers.
A report of the night states that the 911 center was staffed with four operators and was overwhelmed with calls during the flash flooding and the situation was described as “chaotic, at best.”
At the beginning of the call, Reneau was not able to establish Stevens’ location. Reneau put in a police call for Stevens with the call type “stalled vehicle” but changed the priority from the standard level of 6 to a higher priority of 4. Records indicate that there were no officers available at the time.
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