Imagine that an accident left your car and girlfriend on fire–pretty horrifying, right? Well, apparently it’s more of a laughing matter than anything to a 911 operator who got such a call. After Arizona resident Lalo Delgado called 911 to get help because his car and girlfriend were on fire, the operator who took the call can be heard chuckling:
Transcript of the 911 call:
911: 911 what is your emergency?
Caller: My car just kinda caught on fire, my girlfriend caught on fire.
911: Is your girlfriend still on fire?
Caller: No.
911: No?
(laughter in background)
911: Ok. (chuckles) Umm… Is your vehicle still on fire?
Caller: It’s hilarious huh?
911: Sir, is your vehicle still on fire?
Caller: I just heard you smirk… Inaudible.
911: Ok, sir it wasn’t regarding that ok.
Caller: Yeah, I just heard you laugh.
“Her initial reaction was laugh and giggle in the background,” said Delgado. “It was very disturbing.” Delgado called back a few minutes later, just to make sure that his call was taken seriously:
911: 911, what is your emergency?
Caller: Yeah.
911: Hello?
Caller: Yeah I called in a few minutes ago and I just wanted to make sure you took me seriously.
Should the 911 operator be fired? Respond below.
Delgado’s girlfriend did eventually receive help and is recovering. Delgado thinks that the 911 operator’s response caused a delay in response time, which possibly caused his girlfriend’s suffering and burns to be worse than they would have been had the 911 operator immediately sent help, instead of getting a fit of giggles.
“If she wasn’t there playing around giggling and would have been right on it,” he said. “One minute, two minutes, every minute counts man.”
Police with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department disagree that the 911 operator’s laughter caused any delay. “We did not perform as I expect or the citizens of this county expect us to,” said Captain Jim Berry. “We’re going to correct that. Certainly I can understand why he was upset. I would be too. We’re investigating what the laughter was about.”
The 911 operator hasn’t been suspended during the investigation and is still taking calls. “Hopefully the next person that calls 911 doesn’t get laughed at,” said Delgado.
Man calls 911 cuz his wife was on fire & the 911 operator laughs while taking the call smh
— skinnie (@Zulu_Ntombi) October 3, 2013
OH COME ON! Sometimes things are hilariously funny?! Get a sense of humor, Dude. http://t.co/IVj3KH0UPf
— Aaron Inc. (@TooManyCards) October 2, 2013
