Administrators for the 911 response bureau in Buffalo, New York, announced that they have terminated the employment of a dispatcher who mishandled a call during the shooting at the Tops grocery store that claimed the lives of ten people.

During one of the many 911 calls during the shooting incident, Tops employee Latisha Rogers was inside the store, and was whispering so as not to give her position. Apparently, that displeased the dispatcher.

Rogers said, “She was yelling at me, saying, ‘Why are you whispering? You don’t have to whisper. And I was telling her, ‘Ma’am, he’s still in the store. He’s shooting. I’m scared for my life. I don’t want him to hear me. Can you please send help?’ She got mad at me, hung up in my face.”

Local news identified the dispatcher as Sheila Ayers, an eight-year 911 veteran of the Police Services Department. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said her actions were “inappropriate” and “unacceptable.” According to Poloncarz, dispatchers are trained to recognize whispering as a likely sign of imminent danger.

Possible Preaching Angle:

Walking in wisdom with a servant’s heart prepares a person to respond appropriately in stressful situations. It will prevent a person from jumping to conclusions that are harmful.