Kids calling for help - no response

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

02/04/2007 09:59:49 AM · #26

So I prepared and sent the following email to the Florida State Patrol office and cc'd 2 Jacksonville newspapers and 2 News stations. I hope I get a response from FSP.

Dear Sirs,

My name is Cindi Penrod, a resident of Clay county Florida. I hope you can help me understand the Florida State Patrolâ��s response, or lack of response to a call for assistance yesterday evening.

My daughters went to their father's house in Camden County Georgia on Saturday afternoon. My oldest (17 ys old) drove and her 14 year old sister rode along.

On their way home, on a major highway (I295 in Duvall County) and after dark, they had a tire blowout (thankfully they stopped the car safely on the roadside). My daughter called and asked me what to do, she wanted to just get out and change the tire, but I was worried about 2 young girls on the side of the highway at night. I told her to call the State Patrol and ask if someone could come and assist - if nothing else, sit there while she changed the tire - and until then keep the doors locked and lights off. I reminded her NOT to call 911, but to call the State Patrol office directly. Savanah, my daughter, called the State Patrol office and said the dispatcher told her someone was on their way and they would also call for a wrecker, she argued that she didnâ��t need a wrecker but was told one would be sent anyway.

The kids sat in the car and waited for an hour and a half - no State Trooper ever came, no wrecker, nothing. Savanah finally got out and changed the tire herself. I'm very glad she knows how and is able, but I can't believe 2 young girls called for help and noone came.

They got safe, thankfully.

Now I must ask - was this the type of response one can expect when calling the FSP for non-emergency assistance? Was I expecting too much when I advised them to call FSP? Can you suggest some other course of action in such a situation? Needless to say, Iâ��m disappointed.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

A very concerned Parent

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

02/04/2007 10:19:52 AM · #27

The sad thing is that we live in world that doesn't care.

Im very happy they got home safely and the oldest was able to change a tyre on her own. I had a friend who was not so lucky when his son and sons girlfriend broke down and someone offered to help them but ended up taking their money and assulting the guy. they called the Police and was waiting over 2 hours then the Police asked if they were sure they had been robbed.

The Police do a great job Im not knocking them but sometimes they appear to simply not give a shit about certain things.

I understand you anger. I would be furious too had it been my daughters.

Simms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/04/2007 10:31:11 AM · #28

Originally posted by MAK:

What he said.

Shocking story, however we are having our fair-share of `police too busy to attend` stories over here. Glad they gothome safe..

RayEthier

02/04/2007 10:41:28 AM · #29

I must commend you Cindi on the tone of your letter as it deals with this issue in a tactful, concise manner and does not point an accusatory finger.

In defense of the Police Department, one might take into consideration the possibility that calls are prioritized and that a blown tire might not at that time been at the top of the priority list.

The most important thing is that your daughters made it home safe.

I do hope you will inform us of the response you get from the police department... surely there has to be some justifiable reason for the delay.

Ray

megaera

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

02/04/2007 11:01:06 AM · #30

I live in Volusia County, Florida and when I had a flat tire on the highway both a good semaritan and a Sheriff officer pull over to help me, uncalled, at night. However, when I was involved in a car accident on 1-4, State troopers took an hour and a half to respond to the call, and there were six cars involved in that accident! My friend was able to finish dinner and drive from the other side of Orlando before help arrived for us. I'd like to think the toopers are busy protecting and serving, however, there are some days when a trooper and city police are sitting at the end of my street pulling over speeders inside the city limits. I hope FSP has a good reason for no response, like helping with all of the tornado issues or a big accident somewhere. I'm glad your daughters made it home safely and without further incident.

RayEthier

02/04/2007 11:04:47 AM · #31

Originally posted by megaera:

... however, there are some days when a trooper and city police are sitting at the end of my street pulling over speeders inside the city limits.

... and this would be a bad thing?

Ray

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/04/2007 11:15:09 AM · #32

Originally posted by RayEthier:

I must commend you Cindi on the tone of your letter as it deals with this issue in a tactful, concise manner and does not point an accusatory finger. Ray

Thanks, Ray. That's precisely why I DIDN'T send the email last night while I was angry. :)

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

02/04/2007 11:22:37 AM · #33

Originally posted by RayEthier:

... and this would be a bad thing?

No, Your right that is certainly more important then other stuff -> They clearly have noting better to do then revenue raising. Don't get me wrong, there is a benefit to that, just IMO not the most productive use of limited resources.

I regularly see the same 3-4 officers talking to each other when I catch the train late at night - I am sure that this is the best use of their time rather than patrolling the stations where people get regularly mugged.

Glad they made it home, but the sad fact is you need to look for other options when available.

shamrock

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

02/04/2007 11:36:02 AM · #34

I'd be completely pissed and raise holy hell. Kudos to your eldest for being able and willing to change the tire herself. I'll second the recommendation for AAA, i got it for my son for such situations.

rox_rox

Canon EOS-20D

02/04/2007 11:52:37 AM · #35

Hi Cindi,
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Glad that they got home safely. Changing tires on the interstate is so dangerous. Good thing that your daughter has the ability to do that.

Just curious where you get your tires? My husband is adamant about only buying Michelins from the Discount Tire on 220. We actually schedule our tire purchases and service around our trips to OP.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

02/04/2007 12:26:21 PM · #36

hey Roxanne and thanks. I think Sun Tire is exactally where we got the tire that blew. I say I think because I forget the name of the place, but its on 220 behind Zaxby's and Wachovia in Flemming Island.

Edit: We didn't buy Michelin though, we opted for an off-brand instead. :/

Message edited by author 2007-02-04 12:57:47.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

02/04/2007 01:12:15 PM · #37

About 2am one night my daughter and her b/f were visiting the service station/convenience store where my son was working. While trying to check out a possible assault/abduction of a young woman in the parking lot they were threatened with a knife by another, totally uninvolved youth. The knife-wielder fled without injuring anyone.

My son phoned the police, and eventually one responded, or so they thought. It turned out he just happened to drop in, though he dealt with the situation involving the young woman (a high teen whose parents were trying to take her home against her wishes)and searched for the knife in case it had been dropped.

No car was ever dispatched to the call, and this is right across the street, and in full view of, the police station!

02/04/2007 01:49:12 PM · #38

Sheila, that's horrible, I'm glad neither of your kids were hurt. That's exactlly the kind of things that were going through my mind last night while I was waiting for my girls to get home. We're always advised to count on police to help us protect ourselves and our families, but that doesn't seem to be reality.

RayEthier

02/04/2007 02:06:12 PM · #39

Originally posted by robs:

Originally posted by RayEthier:

... and this would be a bad thing?

No, Your right that is certainly more important then other stuff -> They clearly have noting better to do then revenue raising.

Would your views differ at all in this perspective if say they weren't there and some speeder struck and injured or killed someone???

Originally posted by robs:

I regularly see the same 3-4 officers talking to each other when I catch the train late at night - I am sure that this is the best use of their time rather than patrolling the stations where people get regularly mugged.

If you honestly believe these officers to be derelict in their duties then report it... sitting idly by does not rectify problematic situations. [/quote]

But we digress... the important thing is that Cindi's daughters made it home safely, and Cindi has managed to convey her message to the agency concerned in a truly tactful and diplomatic manner.

Ray

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

02/05/2007 10:10:00 AM · #40

Ha! I just got a phone call from a Major Grady T. Carrick, Troop Commander of the FHP. He got my letter and says he is quite upset about what happened with the girls on Saturday. His department will be doing a full investigation including pulling the dispatch tapes, etc. He appologized profusely about the "break down in operations", but says he's it makes him proud to know that my daughter was able to keep a cool head and do what she had to do in the situation. That was nice of him. Anyway, he says he will call me again in about a week to discuss the investigation findings and let me know where the failure was and what they plan to do about it.

Message edited by author 2007-02-05 10:19:23.

downtherabbithole

Canon EOS-30D

02/05/2007 10:17:13 AM · #41

Originally posted by loseme:

I would even send a letter to the local papers.

heck yeah I would be. That really is the only way to keep police honest. I was pulled over and treated badly about 3 months ago b/c my window was rolled down and the officer that I said the word "dick". I called and even went into the dispatch and they just put a note on his file, I went to the local press and the response was huge. Apparntly I wasn't the only one treated badly and reports flooded in, the officer was given 6 months suspension in the end.

take it to the press if you want something done.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

02/05/2007 10:21:24 AM · #42

Originally posted by gi_joe05:

Originally posted by loseme:
I would even send a letter to the local papers.

heck yeah I would be. That really is the only way to keep police honest. I was pulled over and treated badly about 3 months ago b/c my window was rolled down and the officer that I said the word "dick". I called and even went into the dispatch and they just put a note on his file, I went to the local press and the response was huge. Apparntly I wasn't the only one treated badly and reports flooded in, the officer was given 6 months suspension in the end.

take it to the press if you want something done.

I think it was Hunter S. Thompson who once described the Media as the 4th branch of government, responsible for helping keep the others in check. I agree, going to the papers gets the word out, and can make a huge difference.

And to Idnic: I'm glad your girls are okay, and I'll be curious to hear what the outcome of the investigation shows. Hopefully they really are taking it seriously all the way through, and you're not just getting lip-service.

02/05/2007 10:36:44 AM · #43

Joe - I sent an email to Florida State Patrol yesterday, and copied the email to 2 local news channels and 2 local newspapers.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/05/2007 10:37:26 AM · #44

Originally posted by idnic:

Edit - I got a nice email from the guy too, basically saying the same thing he said on the phone and promising to follow-up quickly.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

02/05/2007 11:06:01 AM · #45

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by idnic:
Ha! I just got a phone call from a Major Grady T. Carrick, Troop Commander of the FHP. He got my letter and says he is quite upset about what happened with the girls on Saturday. His department will be doing a full investigation including pulling the dispatch tapes, etc. He appologized profusely about the "break down in operations", but says he's it makes him proud to know that my daughter was able to keep a cool head and do what she had to do in the situation. That was nice of him. Anyway, he says he will call me again in about a week to discuss the investigation findings and let me know where the failure was and what they plan to do about it.

Edit - I got a nice email from the guy too, basically saying the same thing he said on the phone and promising to follow-up quickly.

It's always best to allow whomever the opportunity to rectify the situation......good on you as they say Down Under

The way this went down, the local branch of the FHP know that they have a polite and decent citizen who genuinely wanted to let them know that they had a weakness in their communication.

Score one for your sense of decency.

You would have no way of knowing if two minutes after you called, some pstcho may have shot twelve people in a McDonald's and they just honestly forgot in the ensuing nightmare.

That would be extenuating circumstances that would have precluded their immediate presence.....not that your daughters are any less important.

And you give them a chance to take care of, and apologize for a slightly scary, but not necessarily malicious or neglectful act.

Bottom line.....you also get a chance to review your situation in regards for how you have your girls cobered in the event of an unpleasant situation......offhand, I'd say they conducted themselves swimmingly by getting home safely.

So they, and you, did well.

The roadside assistance coverage may be worth considering.

Oh, and......my neighbor is a heavy equipment sales and rental outfit.....should you need it, just give me a call, I'll grab a lowboy, and load up the tank!!!

I've been contemplating another family trip to Florida anyway.....8>)

02/05/2007 11:12:23 AM · #46

Originally posted by NikonJeb:

Oh, and......my neighbor is a heavy equipment sales and rental outfit.....should you need it, just give me a call, I'll grab a lowboy, and load up the tank!!!

I've been contemplating another family trip to Florida anyway.....8>)

Thanks Jeb, I knew sending them a letter ripping them a new one wouldn't get me anywhere, its always best to use diplomacy when possible. And the tank..... bring it, baby!! :D

02/05/2007 12:36:33 PM · #47

Channel 4 News just called me! :D

They're working on "the story", wanted some more info and will call me back later! Ack! I should shower & dress just in case! lol

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/05/2007 12:37:47 PM · #48

Originally posted by idnic:

Channel 4 News just called me! :D

They're working on "the story", wanted some more info and will call me back later! Ack! I should shower & dress just in case! lol

tell them you'll do the photograpy yourself ;)

02/05/2007 12:39:24 PM · #49

Originally posted by biteme:

Originally posted by idnic:
Channel 4 News just called me! :D

They're working on "the story", wanted some more info and will call me back later! Ack! I should shower & dress just in case! lol

tell them you'll do the photograpy yourself ;)

At least let me set the lighting! lol

hanneke