Good Luck wrote on Sep 6, 2008 8:06 PM:"I think they (the public) should still have confidence in the police department," says an Oceanside Police Department spokesman.

With the OPD's recent string of bungled investigations, ethical violations, and flat out incompetence, all I can say is "Good Luck."

We all know that most Oceanside officers are great people. At the same time, every department is judged by the worst officers they put up with.

what a very unfortunate wrote on Sep 6, 2008 8:12 PM:mistake. I feel sorry for the dispatcher who was perhaps having an "off day" or just not thinking properly. I'm sure she feels absolutely horrible. I feel very sorry for whoever placed the first 911 call, hoping help was on the way. It's sad all around, God Bless the victim and her famly. Hopefully it won't happen again, the 911 mistake. God Bless all involved.

BIG MONEY wrote on Sep 6, 2008 8:18 PM:Wow...they just admitted to a serious mistake and it might have caused this lady her life. A good attorney will make a fortune off the lawsuit from the City of Oceanside. Man Oceanside Police Dept. is having terrible luck these days. God Bless them.

Grump wrote on Sep 6, 2008 9:10 PM:Okay, so a dispatcher made a mistake, they are human aren't they. The victim and her husband are the ones responsible for what happened that night. They choose each other then made other bad choices that ultimately ended in one of them dying. As a tax payer, I hope there will not be another huge lawsuit to pay with my money.

kl wrote on Sep 6, 2008 9:56 PM:I just wanted everyone to know that the Oceanside Police came to my home after I had called 911 by mistake( hit "A" button on phone not "B") and hung up. I did not know the call had gone through to OSPD. The OS Police said they called me back and even tried to interupt my phone conversation to my mom ("B" button) but could not, so they came to my home to see if I was alright.
I was so grateful for the OSPD I wrote them a letter. If anything was wrong I know they would have helped me!
I am sorry for Beatriz Orozco, but I know they are on the job to help us the best they can.

Just a reader wrote on Sep 6, 2008 11:53 PM:I have respect for OPD. It's very unfortunate there was not a call back. If I am correct I read in the first article back in June this couple have had their differences and should have taken better steps at ending the marriage, too little too late and it's a very sad situation for the family and friends involved. This article today says OPD is refreshing their dispatchers which is good. The City of Oceanside should have retraining at least once a year for dispatchers and others that deal with the public. On another note, I know it is important, but at the same time difficult when you place an emergency call and the dispatcher asks for all these details from the caller when the caller just wants the police to arrive asap, it can be frustrating to know all the answers to the questions being asked by the dispatcher...Once again I do have respect for OPD and God Bless all civil service employees who deal with the public.

Bill wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:34 AM:Negligence is defined as having a duty to do something, breaching that duty, damages, and a direct link between the breach and the damages.

These negligent "mistakes" are getting expensive.

Open up your wallets once again people.

Thank the OPD and their negligent ways.

These "mistakes" are really starting to add up now.

Did you notice these things only started after Chief Poelhman left wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:21 AM:What about the old investigation concerning the current chief and allegations he received lap dances at a Las Vegas strip club and that those dances which may have involved a female Oceanside officer? What happened there! Who is steering that ship! What was the outcome to that investigation?

Yeah Grump wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:33 AM:The husband, being human also made a mistake!! Should we just allow him to slide too?

To good luck wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:52 AM:First of all, What string of bungled investigations, what ethical violations, what incompetence? You just appear to be an OPD hater to say something with nothing to back up your words but your opinion. Take this issue. No one complained about the missed call. An execellent investigation by a supervisor who found the mistake, The dispatchers ethics reported it, no OPD cover-up here like most think every time cops are involved with cops. Sounds very extremely competent to me. 5,800 calls in one month, sound like 5,799 handled correctly, what percentage do you think that is. We probably won't know if anything would have changed on the missed call at the time or in the future but put the blame where the blame should be, the killer. Great job OPD.

To good luck follow-up. wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:01 AM:Every day we respond to 911 hang-ups including cell phone hang-ups. I am an OPD cop and I would say we respond to at least a dozen of these type of calls per day especially the wireless calls. Try to find someone who mistakenly hit the 911 button on their cell phone and all we have is trying to find them by cell tower tracking. From dispatchers to cops we do our best everyday to help people, so when something goes wrong, and things will, don't portray everything like "Good Luck" did, and I would bet if he hung up on a 911 call we would try to find him too, no matter what his lousy opinion of us is.

Poor Kid wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:47 AM:That is one little kid who will need a few decades of therapy to get over that carnage - if it's even possible. The father was a coward. He deserves to spend a few decades on death row, dying a little every day until they end his life. Even then he will die an easier death than his wife did. God Bless the boyfriend who dared to get involved. Too bad they didn't just run off together. She might still be alive. Let that be a lesson for you mothers, if you think your husband is crazy, he probably is...

Sylvia wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:49 AM:I think this is a dreadful mistake and certainly the woman should be fired. The Chief had best institute another round of training for these dispatchers ASAP. I still trust the OPD and think they do great work overall.

Eric wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:05 AM:So the dispatcher "feels horrible" about the dropped call and failure to respond to the hang-up. How does the dead woman feel? Well, she has no feeling now, obviously. And to place blame on her for her death is obscene. It was the dispatcher--an "off day?" Those people are supposed to be lifelines! Off days don't count! All across the country we've seen and heard instances of 911 operators either ignoring pleas from victims, mishandling calls or flat-out arguing and criticizing those in peril. They're getting a "refresher" course? This one should be fired! If she'd done her job correctly, the lady may not be dead today. Shameful.

Just Another Mom wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:11 AM:Oceanside is not the only community to have difficulties with the 911 dispatchers. We had the same thing happen in Ramona, when no sheriff ever responded to our 911 call. Later, they said the dispatcher didn't think it was an emergency because my voice wasn't frantic enough....a homeless drug addict had come over our fence and was between me and my child.

Disgusting wrote on Sep 7, 2008 11:01 AM:Uh-Oh another black eye for the City of Oceanside! ... Disgusting.

Not a mistake wrote on Sep 7, 2008 11:23 AM:I don't think this was a mistake. This is something that the dispatcher does for a living and has probably done it for a quite a while now. She should know her job like the back of her hand. ... As soon as the dispatcher received the 911 hang up call, she should have called right back. That would only have taken a couple of seconds, seconds that could have saved this lady's life. For the OPD to ask citizens to still have faith in the department is a joke. I'm very disappointed in Oceanside's law enforcement and very sad for the victim.

no name wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:08 PM:Its interesting to see the remarks (Sylvia and Eric)written about this dispatcher. First I'm sorry this woman had to die, I don't know the entire story and whose to say she wouldn't be dead even if the dispatcher HAD called back. ...

For those of you who have never been a dispatcher you don't even have a clue what they go thru every day! Every call is "Help me" in some way. Yes, we undertook the dispatching job knowing what it's about but human nature always surprises you. The last call I took, a step father killed his 2 yr old step son, put him in a suitcase and threw his body down a storm drain. Or how about the young man who killed his grandmother because she wouldn't give him the car to drive...or a bank robbery in progress where the ex con who just got out of prison, shooting a motorcyle cop right off his bike, and the pursuit involving 3 large agencies through the streets of many cities, and the dispatcher has to keep track of every single minute, including called a paramedic. I could go on and on..these are the type of calls a dispatcher takes every day...And, what do you do for a living?

The gal has been a dispatcher for 21 years, you don't stay a dispatcher for that long and not be good at your job. I don't know what happen nor am I going to judge her but one mistake shouldn't be the end of her career. If Syvlia or Eric think they can do a better job, sign up, every agency I know needs dispatchers!

Artsyrat wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:09 PM:The most significant part of this horrifying and tragic story is where the 3 year old child was found when the police arrived. My gosh, how sad and upsetting. My prayers go up for this child.

What is happening to America...we are becoming such a violent nation...people are more self absorbed and angry than I can ever remember.

CITIZEN ATRISK wrote on Sep 7, 2008 2:09 PM:Don't blame the Dispatcher ...

NOTE: The cops respond to #911 hang ups all day long from our border brothers and sisters mistakenly dialing # 911 instead of # 011 attempting to call Mexico.

Carmen wrote on Sep 7, 2008 2:41 PM:I applaud the OPD for their honesty. What other agency in Oceanside would ever be that honest?

To no name wrote on Sep 7, 2008 3:10 PM:I have been a nurse for over 20 years. I am responsible for the lives of patients every day I work. If a patient died because I failed to follow a written policy, do you think it would be acceptable for me to write it off as just having a bad day???? I'm sorry, but that doesn't fly when you are responsible for peoples' lives.

Alex wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:19 PM:I believe there needs to be legislation passed in California outlawing knives.

To no name nurse wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:33 PM:First of all the dispatcher didn't kill anyone, you are talking about if you give someone wrong meds. If a patient dies because you didn't do a teperature check at a given time doesn't mean you killed them if they had a heart attack while in the hospital. Please don't help me in the hospital if this is the way you logically think of something.

David wrote on Sep 7, 2008 5:11 PM:I agree with Sylvia that the training for these dispatchers may need to be improved, however, I for one believe that you need to trace it back to the hiring process. I have served in the military for 20 years doing a very similar job to that of these dispatchers; handling medivac requests, coordinating air & ground units, and such. I have monitored several radio frequencies at once, and used telephones & computers in order to accomplish my tasks. I applied for this dispatcher job many months ago, scored a 93 on the test, aced the interview only to be told a week later that I was no longer considered for the job. I was given no reason why, but the end result is that the dispatcher section of OPD feels it unecessary to hire the most fully qualified applicant for ther positions. I have respect for the entire Oceanside Police Force; with that said though, I do believe that a shake up in the dispatcher section from top down is in order. Do the citizens of Oceanside deserve less than the best qualified people to serve them in matters of safety & security???
*** To citizen atrisk - did you ever think that there is caller ID be able to make the callback possible? I would think that a dispatcher would know if a call came in from mexico versus locally, and in addition to that, the system is set to handle calls from within the city boundries...

No name nurse wrote on Sep 7, 2008 6:06 PM:No, I'm not talking about giving someone meds or taking a temperature. Nurse do so much more than that--you obviously have no idea what I'm talking about. Nice try, though, attempting to pass off your own illogical interpretation onto me.

To David wrote on Sep 7, 2008 6:48 PM:Why does the entire OPD dispatching staff need a shake down from the top to the bottom for a mistake or lack of judgement made by only ONE dispatcher? This doesn't appear to be a conspiracy. This was ONE dispatcher who did not follow policy. PERIOD! It seems to me, that you are taking a very unfortunate incident and trying to turn it around to make it a "YOU" thing since you didn't get hired..Hmm, sour grapes? I think so. The dispatching test isn't that difficult to pass and there are alot of other people who score higher.
I am a dispatcher for another agency in North county. Most of the public has no clue what it's like to be a 911 dispatcher. The overwhelming stress, the mirco managing and constant second guessing yourself making sure you did everything correctly and did what you are trained to do.
You have to deal with people who yes, need the police, but there are some who are so unbelieveably rude or don't want to tell you what is going on.
We ask questions, and yes we ask ALOT of them. But that is for the callers safety, the publics safety and for the officers safety.
Everyone, just remember, because a dispatcher is asking you questions, doesn't mean that help isn't on its way.
By no means am I defending this dispatcher, I have my own opinion on what should be done.
Remember and know, dispatchers by California state law are required to meet a set amount of training hours that are mandated by P.O.S.T. (Police officers standards and training) if you don't meet those hours, you don't work. We are getting training everday we put on a headset.
In closing, David, please don't correct another persons comments, when you have no clue how a 911 communications centers phone systems work..FYI dispatch centers get calls from all over San Diego county. 911 lines are the only lines that show where someone is calling from. Why am I telling you this? You're not a 911 dispatcher, remember?.

Roberto wrote on Sep 7, 2008 6:52 PM:Very sad..but at least it was brought out in the open without someone having to expose it. This is a tragic incident and paryers to the family. Hopefully this can be a lesson learnt for all.

Notgoodenough wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:37 PM:Citizens of Oceanside really need to realise that standards here are below par. Procedures are in place for a reason and they need to be adhered to. Zero tolerance for this type of inexcusable negligence. How would you feel if it happened to you? We are going to be known as Oceanslide at this rate!

Sheriffs wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:25 PM:Fire OPD and contract with the Sheriff Department. They will do a much better job like the job they do in Vista.

anyone wrote on Sep 7, 2008 11:36 PM:before you jump on the bandwagon and blame the dispatcher, you need to be aware of how a communications center works. how many dispatchers are on duty at any given time. how many phone lines are available? what condition the equipment the dispatchers use is in? headsets, keyboards, volume controls, etc. do you know how many calls received on 911 in a month are really 911 - life and death - calls? do you know how many ppl call 911 becuause they wont look up the non emergency number to call? and most of all - sorry, the dispatchers ARE human. the fact that the public only hears about police officers or dispatchers when something doesnt go "right", gives the public no idea of the lives that are saved every day by that same dispatcher who cares enuf to talk a despondant person out of killing themselves and ensures that help arrives. that reassures a parent their runaway child will return unharmed... that goes above and beyond what the rules and reg's state to make phone calls for the public that they arent required to make, to ensure that citizen gets the help or information they want. nope.... as HuMANS, ppl are so quick to jump on the bandwagon and point fingers and totally invisible when it comes time to hand out praise for the million times that same dispatcher has saved a life... you just dont hear about the good things...

Curious wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:38 AM:Someone above posted about this country becomming such a hostile place to live, i agree! though i ponder the question to myself, when did we become so helpless and defenseless? i for one am armed and willing to shoot you if you threaten my life, i have and earthquake kit to protect myself during such event, before you judge someone judge yourself, how mant mistakes do you make in any given day. I dont care if they lead to nothing they were still a mistake. A women died because she made mistakes all around! then her husband went nut's his fault too! Give me a break people you can blame the dispatcher all you want im sure if you were ever in those shoes the guilt you would feel would be to much to bear. oh wait as shown in your comments your perfect i must have forgotton

Frustrated wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:21 AM:This is nuts. Does anyone think that firing a dispatcher who has successfully and dilligently done their job for 21 years will do anything but cause the citizens of Oceanside to loose a person who has been there to answer 10's of thousands of calls for assistance? One mistake that deserves discipline and retraining, but not termination. I challenge anyone else out there to prove that they have a perfect record on all aspects of their job.

Mistakes wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:29 AM:Mistakes happen in all professions from advanced burger flipping to the highest levels of government. If this was an honest mistake, the ramifications should allow for that. If found to be other than that, again the resulting "discipline" should reflect the severity of the act, within the policies of the department. Sure this was a very serious situation, and one that needs a close look to see what happened. But if everyone that makes a mistake is fired, or otherwise punished beyond what is reasonable, in the name of being perfect everytime, and this is the expectation, then who can fill those shoes in any profession? Raise your hand if you never committed an error.

Sean wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:23 AM:This is one mistake that probably contributed directly to the death of the victim. Had the call been dispatched, there is a very good chance an officer could have prevented the murder.

Pretentious Arbiters... wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:25 AM:The general public is so quick to judge - particularly to those who are sworn to serve and protect us.....
To those who blame law enforcement for every personal event that happens is preposterous; and next time something bad happens to you just remember what goes around comes around. However, this incident does strengthen my belief in depending too much on government services and citizens RESPONSIBILITIES - NRA for life.

FTM wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:38 AM:Your ALL a bunch of sheep.

This happens ALL THE TIME in EVERY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

Your all being dragged into this mearly because the NCT's needs somthiing that bleeds to 'leed' thier newspaper for today.

This is a NON NEWS item. If NCT's reported every time this happens EVEN WHEN THRE IS A REAL LIFE AT STAKE they would be reporting one of these each week.

It's just another way for NCT's to find somthing to keep all you (and me) to blog.

Jip wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:44 AM:To blame the dispatcher for a murder is misguided and an easy way to gripe about public figures, which the public loves to do. I'd say there was a strong chance that call-back and a police unit heading straight out there wouldn't have been enough. The police showed up about 30 minutes after the initial call and there was blood in every room of the house and a dead woman. I don't think showing up 15 minutes earlier would've saved a life.

I'm sorry for all the victims here, and I know the dispatcher feels horrible. But it's not her fault a husband murdered her wife.

pat wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:25 AM:Ask the medical examiner? If they had responded (a.s.a.p) would she have survived due to her injuries???

Bill wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:28 AM:A good percentage of those arrested by OPD obey the law 99.99999% of the time.

Should OPD and the DA overlook their occasional mistake in that context too?

That seems to be what they are asking the public to do. Overlook this since 99.9 of the other calls were done right.

I dont think so.

This is negligence and its inexcusable.

Osider wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:40 AM:Mistake or no mistake, the dispatcher is ALL cases involving 911 calls should be held accountable, period. This is her job as a public servant. This lady lost her life because, she forgot to make a call back and didn't follow protocol. I have called in before as well as my neighbors for local disturbances involving fights and other public distubances and the dispacthers make you feel like your the suspect questioning you requesting your information and if you dont give it, they won't even respond. They say this over and over when calling in on the regular line. Finally, we have just giving up calling in because of the way they treat you while just trying to help. Forget it!!

Dave wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:33 AM:To the nameless dispatcher who had comments for me... 1st off, you are right, I don't know the ALL the intricacies of the dispatcher job; as my experience has been with military units, but is VERY similar. Instead of primarily answering phones (calls), I monitored up to 5 radio frequencies at any given time as well as monitored information passed in chat rooms and answering tactical phones. One thing for sure is that I would know enough to immediately call back when I lost a caller - I have had to do that countless times when I performed my duties in the field. I too would have to "pull" information from the person I was talking to in order to get the best response for their situation. Its not easy to keep a young person calm when they are receiving enemy fire - and requesting immediate air support. And, again, you are right, I am not a CIVILIAN dispatcher, my work was done in a myraid of locations, climates, and situations to include combat zones. I wasn't able to go home after a shift and have a microwave dinner much less a home cooked meal, relax in a jacuzzi, or watch some TV to get my mind off the stress. I stood guard duty, worked on establishing defensive positions at our site, drove in convoys, and things such as that. I KNOW the stresses of your job and then some. What happened in this case is a BIG mistake, which needs to be swiftly, but properly addressed, but honestly, if that dispatcher has 21 years of service -which deserves lots of credit, it still boggles my mind how this happened.

anyone wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:15 PM:Sorry... if you think the dispatcher making that call back would have saved her life you are living in another dimension in time. The blame doesnt belong with the dispatcher or the police department. it belongs on her, her husband and her boyfriend. they are responsible for the choices they made which led to her husband killing her, not the dispatcher. Do you know how many 1,000's of 911 hang ups are recieved in the dispatch center every day???? like it or not, none of us are perfect and mistakes and oversights happen. when you have 7 911 lines ringing and those "playing" on 911, those whose cell phones dial 911 when being put in a pocket, etc., it's easier then you think to miss calling one back. Dispatchers ask questions for a reason. public safety, and officer safety being the top of the list. suspect descriptions are asked so if the officer responding passes him/her by; on the way to the call, they can recognize that is the suspect and stop them rather then get to the call to be told, oh, i just drove by them because i didnt have a description. that same protocol that requires call backs on 911 calls, also requires those "questions" be asked on EVERY call taken, regardless of the nature. Sometimes the officers request updates and if the dispatcher doesnt have your information, they have no way to ensure your safety or the officers safety. stop pointing your fingers about things you know little about. it's NOT the dispatchers fault this man killed his wife.

another opinion wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:24 PM:As a citizen, I would expect more (not less) of 21-year senior dispatcher, who is most likely a supervisor, if not a trainer. The purpose of the call-back is to RE-establish contact and determine an appropriate response to 911 hang-ups. Neither happend in this case. The dispatcher failed to follow protocol, which possibly contributed to an escalation of an emergency that eventually lead to Mrs. Orozco's death - that's the issue! Blame the killer - yeah - but one can't deny that the public safety official has a responsibility here too. Big pat on the back for OPD owning up to their internal audit AFTER the MEDIA pressed them about the case - but "the dispatcher doesn't know why she didn't call back" is boderline contemptuous! What's up with you people touting dispatchers tough working conditions and so on... public safety is/was comprimised so there is an issue!

to anyone wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:26 PM:Did the dispatcher do her job? NO...You're fired!!

Bottom line.

Grump wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:31 PM:To yeah Grump; the husband made a bit more than a mistake, he commited murder which is a captial offense. I never said anything about letting anyone slide.

To Dave a.k.a David wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:36 PM:I read what you wrote the 2nd time around. I fully agree with you. I in no way was saying or trying to imply that your job is less demanding then a dispatchers.
Honestly, I didn't like how you expressed yourself.
I give major kudos to anyone who is in the military, now matter their rank or position.
Take care

Give it a rest wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:38 AM:Look to all you people who say fire her she is negligant in her duties and she needs to go. What if it were you? Yeah she had a bad day. don't we all. I am a public servant as well. I work with in the law enforcement community and her is a person who maybe had to answer her one millionth call and just made a mistake. In 21 years of service you don't get to do the job that long and not make mistakes. So for those of you who say fire her go back to your minimum wage job where a bad day is you telling somebody that it is not your department or messing up there order at the drive thru. For 21 yrs of hard work she deserves a little break and I am sure she is devistated by the outcome of the call.. So give it a rest!!!

lets see wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:41 AM:how well you can remember something 2 or 3 months later and explain why you missed something? none of you were there and shouldn't judge someone on something you know nothing about. you have no idea what else was going on at the time. maybe by the time the dispatcher was ABLE to make a call back, officers were already on the way to the house? the point is you don't know because you weren't there.

Osider wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:51 AM:Book her Dano!!

To Bill and big money wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:08 PM:Whomever wants to file a lawsuit may do so. That is the nature of the hand out for nothing we live in. However, according to the appelate and US Supreme Courts, Fire and Police Departments are never required to respond to a call for help. Numerous lawsuits have been filed and dismissed by the courts due to the misperception that fire and police have a duty to help. Not True. Look it up, your wallet is safe. As to your collective statements that the dept is inept and bungle investigations they follow the rules of evidence. Not violating rights of others. Sorry to stop you on your ranting and raving. You are just wrong.

Osider wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:43 PM:R U kidding me "To Bill and big money"? OPD blotches mega investigations violating many constitutional rights. Think outside the box guy!

to osider wrote on Sep 12, 2008 8:23 PM:Did you mean "botches" and not "blotches?" I'm just curious as to what dictionary you are using to make up cunning words. Please speak with real English words or no one will respect you. I can tell you that I now disagree with your comment based simply on your lack of grasp on the English language. It truly sounds as though you may not have graduated high school.

P.S. Osider wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:14 PM:I do believe that that the other made-up word "mega investigations" shoud be hyphenated as used. "Mega-investigations" osuld sound more convincing.

rsxguy wrote on Sep 13, 2008 4:03 AM:call 911 wait 45 minutes to conect to the friggen highway patrol tell them a meth addict broke into your house and is wandering around with a knife,get transfered to OPD then wait to tell or have told your "problem" now wait 10 to 40 minutes for an available officer to arrive..good system we got oh and btw we cant have a ccw permit in san diego county unless your rich or working for someone who is rich i shoot an intruder i get arrested and then have to get bailed out so now im out 1000 bucks for bail and had to take days off work to deal with the police because i shot and injured an intruder...what ever happened to the days of 'you break into my home i kill you, cops see what happened and go " well come down to give a statement, dont leave the county and make sure to return our calls and everything should be ok"