Print This Post
911 operator helps stop sexual assault in progress
9-1-1 in the News, Calls | Greg | June 18, 2010 at 8:36 am
A Tucson Police civilian 911 operator is free to tell a remarkable story now — a year after her steady nerves helped police rescue a woman from a sexual assault in progress.
Monica Sheldon is free to talk now because the attacker’s prosecution has run its course and the man was just sentenced to a long prison term.
When Sheldon answered the 911 call May 13, 2009, the caller said nothing but the noises Sheldon heard made her think she was hearing domestic violence.
“And I ended up hearing a little bit more that indicated it may have been a sexual assault of some sort so I knew it was something different than pretty much anything I’d ever handled before.”
The noises were of a sexual assault, an assault still happening as Sheldon listened and tried to figure out where it was happening.
If the call had come from a land line her screen would show an address right away. But this call came from a cell. Because the woman being attacked couldn’t give a location, at first the team at the 911 center could only direct Tucson Police to a desert area north of I-10 and west of Park Avenue.
Often 911 operators can comfort a caller, and assure them help is on the way. If Monica Sheldon said anything, the attacker might notice the phone.
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS Feed
