- A mother is outraged at the police for not properly responding to her 911 call
- The operator told him to call a politician and ask for more police funding.
- After six calls to 911, it took police four hours to arrive at her home.
A mother, who was the victim of a home invasion, is outraged after a 911 operator told her she should call a local legislator to request more police funding.
Michelle, who chose to remain anonymous, called 911 six times after two men broke into her Chicago home. When they answered, they told her that if she wanted help from the police, she should call her city councilwoman and demand more funding for the Chicago Police Department.
“A gentleman came up and apologized for telling him we don’t have units to send him… then there was an awkward pause,” he said. said NBCChicago. “He also recommended that I call my councilman and I told him why, and he told me to encourage him to hire more police.”
She continued, “The dispatcher also asked me if I would consider defending myself…if I had a gun or would consider getting one.”
The victim said two men entered her home around 12:30 p.m. when she opened the door to let her dog out.
Michelle, a Chicago mother who chose to remain anonymous, was the victim of a home invasion after two men (pictured) broke into her Wicker Park home in Chicago.
The 911 operator recommended Michelle call her councilman to encourage him to hire more police, rather than addressing the problem at hand (Pictured: 1st District Councilman Daniel La Spata).
No one came to Michelle’s house for four hours. She called 911 six times and when they answered, she demanded to speak to a supervisor.
“I saw two men wearing masks standing inside my house,” “I yelled, ‘I’m calling the police,’ and they ran away.”
Michelle and her neighbor chased the men out of their homes and then, once she was safe, she called 911.
“They told me dispatch was on its way and to wait outside,” he said.
When the officers finally arrived at their home, they showed deep remorse and apologized profusely for not having arrived sooner.
“The officers who showed up were concerned and apologetic that it took them so long to get there,” he said.
Chicago police blamed the delay on the priority list of 911 calls, they told NBC Chicago. The department said if a person’s life is not in immediate danger, they can be lowered on the priority list.
In a statement, 1st District Councilman Daniel La Spata wrote:
“It’s horrible that our neighbor experienced this, everyone deserves to feel safe in their home,” he said.
When the officers finally arrived at their home, they showed deep remorse and apologized profusely for not having arrived sooner.
The victim said two men (pictured) entered her home around 12:30 p.m. when she opened the door to let her dog out.
‘My staff alerted me to the issue as soon as they found out about it and I am in contact with District 12 police leadership.
“I will continue to support any resources our districts request and will continue to work with the City on a proposed satellite location within West Town for District 12 police.”
Michelle emphasized that she doesn’t blame the police for not arriving sooner.
“I don’t think it’s the police department’s fault that they are overstaffed and overwhelmed,” he said.