- A mother is furious with police for not adequately responding to her 911 call
- The dispatcher told her to call a politician and ask for more police funding
- After six calls to 911, it took police four hours to get to her home
A mother who was the victim of a home invasion is outraged after a 911 dispatcher told her to call a local lawmaker to request more police funding.
Michelle, who has chosen 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 police help, she should call her councilor and demand more money for the Chicago Police Department.
“A gentleman stepped in and said sorry when I said we don’t have any units to send you… then there was an awkward pause,” she said told NBC Chicago. “He also advised me to call my councilor and I said why, and he said 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 was considering purchasing one.”
The victim said two men entered her home around 12:30 p.m. when she opened the door to walk her dog.
Michelle, a Chicago mother who has chosen to remain anonymous, became the victim of a home invasion after two men (pictured) broke into her home in Chicago’s Wicker Park
The 911 dispatcher advised Michelle to call her councilman to encourage him to hire more police, instead of dealing with the problem (Photo: 1st Ward 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 in my house.” “I shouted – ‘I’m calling the police’ and they fled.”
Michelle and her neighbor chased the men away from their homes, and once she was safe, she called 911.
“They told me the mail was on its way and I had to wait outside,” she said.
When officers finally arrived at her home, they expressed deep remorse and apologized profusely for not getting there sooner.
“The officers who did show up were concerned and apologized for taking so long to get them there,” she said.
Chicago police blamed the delay on the priority list for 911 calls, they told NBC Chicago. The department said if a person’s life is not in immediate danger, it may fall low on the priority list.
In a statement, First Ward Councilor Daniel La Spata wrote:
“It’s terrible that our neighbor has gone through this, everyone deserves to feel safe in their home,” he said.
When officers finally arrived at her home, they expressed deep remorse and apologized profusely for not getting there sooner
The victim said two men (pictured) entered her home around 12:30 p.m. when she opened the door to walk her dog.
“My staff alerted me to the matter as soon as they heard about it, and I am in contact with 12th District Police Department leadership.
“I will continue to support any resources our districts request, and I will continue to work with the city on a proposed satellite location in West Town for the 12th District Police Department.”
Michelle emphasized that she does not blame the police for not being there sooner.
“I don’t think it’s the police’s fault that they’re overstaffed and overwhelmed,” she said.