why do they release 911 calls?

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

whats the point? why do they release these to the media/public? wouldnt the agencies wanna keep this stuff private? are they trying to deter bootleggers? i dont get it

[Shrdlu]

And why do people watch those boring shows with clips from the cams in cop cars??

"He thought he could beat the Law, but Officer Coltrane had other ideas ......"

[sonnymax]

Did he say "bootleggers"?

Oh, maybe he meant these bootleggers:

Either way, I prefer the bootlegger's daughter:

[GregK]

seriously, though, why do we need to hear these calls? I've never understood it either.

Edited January 9, 2010 by GregK

[Brad]

Probably as a self justification.

[Claude]

I always wondered about that too.

In Europe, it's not allowed to release this information, unless it is useful for an investigation, or there is a public inquiry.

[sonnymax]

Okay, if you guys want to be serious, then you should know that the laws regarding the disclosure of 911 calls vary from state to state in the U.S. In most cases, the calls are considered "public records," just like police reports, court documents, etc. In some states, 911 tapes are considered "public" once the caller's identifying information (name, phone number, address) have been removed. In other states, police may not release the tape, but they are required to provide a written transcript of the call.

Here's a useful blurb from the Iowa Attorney General's office:

Generally, audio tapes of 911 calls are public records and must be released by the lawful custodian, unless a specific provision of law makes all or part of the tape confidential. The following guidelines apply to release of audio tapes, including those which contain confidential information:

- Open Records: Audio tapes of 911 calls which do not include confidential information are open records and must be released on request.

- Confidential Information: Most audio tapes of 911 calls about a crime or incident should be treated as peace officers' investigative reports that may be kept confidential; however, the "date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances" must be released, except under unusual circumstances.

- Unusual Circumstances: When release of information in a 911 audio tape "would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger" to a person's safety, the "date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances" about a crime or incident should be kept confidential.

Personally, I have little interest in hearing 911 or police calls unless they provide important information about an incident. For example, if an officer later defends his actions based on the claim that he was faced with a volatile situation (yelling, threats, etc.), he might have some explaining to do if the released tape provides evidence to the contrary. In the best situations, these laws provide transparency that helps protect the public. The availability of the more sensational 911 tapes we hear on television is the price we pay for this openness.

Now what about those bootleggers?

Edited January 9, 2010 by sonnymax

[Bright Moments]

911 calls are particularly useful when litigitang the merits of a domestic violence claim. When a claim of domestic violence is manufactured by one party for the purpose of having the other party removed from the marital home, a 911 call may be useful in impeaching the claimant.

[AllenLowe]

I agree, and also it keeps the cops and the dispatchers honest (some of the time at least) knowing that what they're doing is public record.

As one who is VERY cynical and critical about the police and the mess they make of their jobs, I am completely in favor of this.

[Teasing the Korean]

I agree, and also it keeps the cops and the dispatchers honest (some of the time at least) knowing that what they're doing is public record.

As one who is VERY cynical and critical about the police and the mess they make of their jobs, I am completely in favor of this.

I agree with this, but it does feel voyeuristic and creepy to listen to someone getting murdered. At least on the news they could forewarn viewers/listeners. This happens sometimes but not always.

[papsrus]

We had a case here recently (and I was actually in the jury pool for this one) where a young mother of two small children was kidnapped, raped and murdered. There were two 911 calls made during the kidnapping and the 911 people screwed up terribly. One call by the victim that lasted for several minutes, and one by a witness.

Here's what happened:

At 6:30pm, King was seen driving down US Route 41 southbound, where a witness, Jane Kowalski, called 9-1-1 as well. She was routed to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office as she and King just passed from Sarasota County into Charlotte County and reported she was witnessing someone screaming for her life in a car sitting beside her at a red light. Kowalski slowed to a pace of 20 mph hoping King would go around her. Instead he got behind her. She wanted to get his license plate or follow him). King also slowed down and stayed behind her. Kowalski's call lasted 9 minutes and included cross streets. The Charlotte County Communications Center's call taker did not enter this vital information into the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) until 6:42PM. 12 minutes after the call began. And a police car was never dispatched despite several cars being in that area waiting for information as to what to look for.

Don't have to hear the specifics of the 911 calls to know that they screwed up, but having the calls available as a public record forced some obviously needed changes in the 911 system.

Tapes of the calls were played during the trial (a public process) to help demonstrate the killing was premeditated.

He got the death sentence. Lawsuits pending over mishandling of the 911 calls.

Bottom line: It's a public service we pay for, so we ought to have access to it unless there's damn good reason not to.

[BERIGAN]

I agree, and also it keeps the cops and the dispatchers honest (some of the time at least) knowing that what they're doing is public record.

As one who is VERY cynical and critical about the police and the mess they make of their jobs, I am completely in favor of this.

Gee, almost sounds as if you are stating cops by and large make a mess of their jobs....

[Chuck Nessa]

They do it so you don't ask for 912 calls.