Wonder how a 911 call got switched to a non-emergency line? Computer glitch?

"Initially, police said the first call they received was on a non-emergency line at 2:51 a.m. Later, however, they confirmed it was on the emergency 911 system but it was apparently transferred to a non-emergency line. "

Feb 17, 11:07 est

Police probe fatal delay in restraining order call

WINNIPEG (CP) - A suspect was arrested early today after two women were found dead in their home Wednesday morning, more than two hours after police were first called about a man who was apparently breaching a restraining order.

The victims were sisters: Corrine McKeowen, 52 and Doreen Leclair, 51.

Police have arrested William John Dunlop, 30, and were expected to say more about possible charges today.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg Police Chief Jack Ewatski has asked for a report on the incident and an explanation for the delay.

''This is certainly a very tragic event,'' he said Wednesday. ''There are policies in place relative to what has to take place (but) I'd prefer not to discuss our polices or procedures at this time.''

The calls were recorded and Ewatski said he didn't want to start making guesses about what was said until the review is completed.

''It would be unfair of me to speculate one way or another what happened.''

Initially, police said the first call they received was on a non-emergency line at 2:51 a.m. Later, however, they confirmed it was on the emergency 911 system but it was apparently transferred to a non-emergency line.

It's uncertain whether the man was actually at the house at the time.

It wasn't until a second call at 4:59 a.m. on the emergency 911 system that a cruiser car was dispatched. It took police only about five minutes to reach the house but by then the two women - one of whom made the final emergency call - were dead.

Police said they were looking for a suspect in the double slaying.

Manitoba has had a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence since 1991 but there have been complaints the system still isn't working properly to protect women.

Changes were recommended three years ago in a report prepared after the 1995 murder of Rhonda Lavoie of Winnipeg by her estranged husband Roy, who then committed suicide.

Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh, who was critical of the former government's response to the report, declined to comment Wednesday, citing the police investigation.

A police spokesperson would only say they were investigating what looked like a double homicide related to a domestic dispute.

But Constable Bob Johnson said he could provide few details of what happened, either at the house or at the police station where the first call was received.

No cause of death was released.

link

http://www.thestar.ca/thestar/editorial/updates/news/200002180_CRIME-POLICE.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 17, 2000

Answers

Would it be pertantent to make an observation here. That if the 911 system had not of "passed" the unfortunate ladies' call over to a non-emegency phone line. That they might still be alive.

Now if, the "glitch" in the 911 system is due to a Y2K bug. Then could a asumption be made that a Y2K problem has cost lives? I distintively remember the Polly rally (rants) "about no one's life would be in danger (or lost) due to Y2K bugs".

"As for me...I shall finsh the Game"!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), February 17, 2000.