The head of New Orleans' 911 system went on the defensive today to explain why it took nearly half an hour between the initial 911 call of a woman saying her ex was threatening to set her house on fire to police responding to the scene of a home in flames, and three children dead.
Karl Fasold, head of the Orleans Communications District which oversees 911, says the initial call was categorized as "domestic violence code 2," which means police are to respond with light and siren. Fasold said there were no NOPD units available.
"In an ideal world, we would have enough field units to be able to assign someone and send them to that call immediately. You guys are well aware that we don’t live in an ideal world now," Fasold said.
NOPD chief Ann Kirkpatrick says she would like more answers, and has opened an internal investigation.
"This afternoon, I have formally opened a PIB investigation so we can look at everything associated with NOPD's side of this concern" Kirkpatrick said.
New Orleans City Council vice president Helena Moreno said emergency officials must do a better job.
"Why, at 11:55, wasn't fire and NOPD dispatched?" she asked.
"If they got there within five minutes, the would have been there around 12:01," Moreno said, noting that was shortly after the suspect left the scene.
Moreno said domestic violence complaints that don't get priority have a way of turning into homicide calls.
"It's just so often, it still seems like domestic violence is not taken seriously," Moreno said. "When a victim says 'I need help,' they need help, and they need help right now."
