Kids calling for help - no response

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/05/2007 03:05:48 PM · #76

Well that was most definitely interesting. The reporter was very polite to me and Savanah. He asked us seperately (while filming) to tell him what happened on Saturday. He also filmed Savanah's car (the spare tire is still on it) and had her show how she had changed the tire herself (she was using the jack wrong LOL). Then he asked us both how we felt about the FHP respons (or lack of) - Savanah told gave an amazingly intelligent answer about how what seems to be increased crime rate in our area may instead be lack of police protection and presence when its needed. I told them I was planning to get roadside protection for my children so that if there is a next time we will have some other options. He also asked me about the FHP's appology, if that was "good enough" in my opinion. I told him I guessed it would have to be good enough as I can't imagine what else they could do for me at this point - they understand they made an error and hopefully knowing it will help prevent it from happening to another mother's children.

He had already spoken to the same FHP rep that called me earlier so knew their 'explanation' of the events, so the rest of the time we talked about how the officer who was dispatched might have somehow not seen the girls on the roadside and about why the wrecker was never dispatched, etc.

I think it went well. Seems they think her changing the tire herself is the beef of the story - but will discuss the WHY in context. I could be wrong about that, we'll see how it gets edited. He didn't say if it would air tonight, but I'm assuming it will (I forgot to ask).

downtherabbithole

Canon EOS-30D

02/05/2007 03:14:56 PM · #77

thats quite a story, and a nice response on your daughters part. that really is a stab at the police but a very well made point.

I think you are doing something right :)

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/05/2007 03:25:47 PM · #78

Originally posted by idnic:

I could be wrong about that, we'll see how it gets edited. He didn't say if it would air tonight, but I'm assuming it will (I forgot to ask).

what channel? I get some jacksonville stations for my local stations.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/05/2007 03:29:00 PM · #79

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Again we seem to jump at conclusions.

So you don't feel that there was anything wrong with what went on here?

I honestly have nothing against law enforcement at all, and in fact I'm very supportive of the law enforcement community. And I'm not at all a conspiracy theorist.

But here's an OBVIOUS case where things should have been handled much, much differently.

What happened to Cindi's daughter's is symptomatic of our society in general nowadays. Customer service, whether it's something as trivial as a rude server at a fast food restaurant, or something as serious as putting young girls' lives in potential danger, has gone out the window.

I think it's rather hard to deny that something went awry here. So the officer got called to a more serious incident -- fine... but somebody on the dispatcher's end should have had the intelligence to follow through with the girls' call, regardless. There's no excuse for the fact that they had their phone number and never bothered to call them after the officer couldn't locate them.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/05/2007 03:36:06 PM · #80

And for the record...

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Perhaps I missed it, but in her letter to the Florida Highway Patrol, I don't recall Cindi mentioning that she had CC'd a copy of her email to the media

Originally posted by idnic:

So I prepared and sent the following email to the Florida State Patrol office and cc'd 2 Jacksonville newspapers and 2 News stations.

02/05/2007 03:43:52 PM · #81

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

Originally posted by idnic:
I could be wrong about that, we'll see how it gets edited. He didn't say if it would air tonight, but I'm assuming it will (I forgot to ask).

what channel? I get some jacksonville stations for my local stations.

Channel 4 News4Jax

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

02/05/2007 03:48:42 PM · #82

Firstly Cindi I am glad your girls are safe and sound.
I was reading this thread and tried to imagine a similar situation here in the U.K. Both my wife and my daughter are members of the A.A.(Automobile Association). That means they are both covered in any car, wether they are passengers or driving. Being females they would also get preference should they break down. This costs about Â£75 per year for my wife, which also includes home start. When my daughter passed her driving test it was the first thing we did for her to make certain she would be looked after out on the road.

I dont believe many people in this country would consider calling the police when they broke down unless it was an emergency, I guess life is different here!

Mike

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/05/2007 03:52:47 PM · #83

Originally posted by MikeOwens:

Firstly Cindi I am glad your girls are safe and sound...............I dont believe many people in this country would consider calling the police when they broke down unless it was an emergency, I guess life is different here!

Mike

Thanks, Mike :)
And, the reason I asked her to call a police officer wasn't to fix the car, she can change a tire herself, it was to protect her and her young sister while they were disabled on a roadside at night. They were in a yucky area of the city.

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

02/05/2007 03:54:43 PM · #84

Yeh I understand Cindi, that must be some 'yuky' part of the city!

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

02/05/2007 03:56:39 PM · #85

One question I had in the whole thing was whether she called back in that 90 minutes? I know the cops should show up the first time, etc. But if I waited 30 minutes or 45 minutes tops, I would have called back and checked for an update.

Maybe something important came in 2 minutes after her call and she got forgotten. Lame, but a possibility that I can understand.

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 15:57:19.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/05/2007 04:00:01 PM · #86

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

No, Jason, she didn't call them a second time - she said she kept thinking "they must be busy, but they'll get here" and she didn't want to be a nusance calling over & over. The FHP rep said that is probably the only error we made (if any) that we should have just kept calling.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

02/05/2007 04:03:17 PM · #87

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
One question I had in the whole thing was whether she called back in that 90 minutes? I know the cops should show up the first time, etc. But if I waited 30 minutes or 45 minutes tops, I would have called back and checked for an update.

Maybe something important came in 2 minutes after her call and she got forgotten. Lame, but a possibility that I can understand.

No, Jason, she didn't call them a second time - she said she kept thinking "they must be busy, but they'll get here" and she didn't want to be a nusance calling over & over. The FHP rep said that is probably the only error we made (if any) that we should have just kept calling.

Quite understandable. I think many people would naturally "not want to be a bother", but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. At least I've learned that over time.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

02/05/2007 04:43:03 PM · #88

I stand corrected... but I can't say I particularly care for the inference made.

Ray

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 16:47:46.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

02/05/2007 04:51:29 PM · #89

Glad everything is working out. Now we get to see you on the news; and not running from the cops. *g*

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/05/2007 04:55:04 PM · #90

I bet they come quickly next time.

Now you can save money on roadside assistance, just call the State Police.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/05/2007 05:01:10 PM · #91

They just promo'd it! I look FUNNY! hehehee "Story coming up"

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/05/2007 05:19:34 PM · #92

Looks like they might have been lucky nobody showed up.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

02/05/2007 05:23:21 PM · #93

Originally posted by RayEthier:

I stand corrected... but I can't say I particularly care for the inference made.

What inference is that...?

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

02/05/2007 05:24:12 PM · #94

Originally posted by Gordon:

Looks like they might have been lucky nobody showed up.

LOL He needs a bicycle!

They just promo'd again, story will air in 5:30 news. "Two young girls stranded on I295, hear why their parents are upset with FHP...."

I never said I was upset! lol

aliqui

Nikon D300s

02/05/2007 05:30:03 PM · #95

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by Gordon:
Looks like they might have been lucky nobody showed up.

LOL He needs a bicycle!

They just promo'd again, story will air in 5:30 news. "Two young girls stranded on I295, hear why their parents are upset with FHP...."

I never said I was upset! lol

That's how media works, silly.

chip_k

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

02/05/2007 05:33:50 PM · #96

For those mentioning the insurance's road-side assistance, the one time I've tried to use them, I was told it would be 45 minutes before the wrecker showed up.

I didn't see this anywhere in the thread, but why didn't you or your husband go out there? One of the two of you would have been able to get there in less than half-an-hour. If they were really in danger, it seems like one of the two of you would have acted rather than waiting on the police.

I don't have kids, but when friends have been in situations where they've felt like they were in danger, I've done the driving myself and not expected the police to respond in a fast manner to a "non-emergency."

I'm not saying this to "attack" you, I just have a genuine concern that we always expect others to solve our problems and don't take actions ourselves.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/05/2007 05:40:34 PM · #97

Originally posted by idnic:

When one writes a letter of complaint and sends copies of it to the media, it's fair for the media to infer that you were upset.