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The Denise Amber Lee Act
“Denise Amber Lee Act” clears Senate
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.The Denise Amber Lee Act, 911 dispatcher training legislation named after the slain North Port mother, passed unanimously in the state Senate Thursday afternoon.
Denise Lee”s husband, Nathan, and father, Charlotte County Sheriff Sgt. Rick Goff, sat in the front row of the Senate gallery wearing “Remember Denise Fix 911″ buttons bearing a picture of the blonde 21-year-old’s face.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Democrat who represents part of Charlotte County, told the story of the 911 call Denise Lee’s family believes could have saved her life. His legislation would create statewide standards for the training and certification of 911 operators.
“It’s something good that’s come from this whole thing, so hopefully people will feel comfortable about calling 911 and this mistake hopefully will never happen again,” Nathan Lee said after the bill passed.
“It’s a real honor to have it named after Denise.”
Let’s hope it never happens again. Let at least that much come out of this whole terrible story.
Thank you to Peggy for making me aware of this story….I was deep into HTML code and hadn’t looked at the news tonight. And if anyone could tell me how to get a “Remember Denise” pin, I would be proud to wear it.
Thank you for keeping us updated. I had not seen this yet. I hope nobody else has to go through anything like this :( Peggy, you’re still in our thoughts and prayers daily. {and the whole family too}
“We wanted them terminated, at least terminated, if not criminally charged”
Criminally charged? Sound like Mr. Goff needs some additional training. I understand their loss but their hate is mis-directed.
Do you even know about this case??? the whole story??? I’m sorry I dont think you could possibly understand their loss. The 911 operator thought it was a child screaming in the car! NO CAR WAS SENT. {Even though they were close by} DO you understand why they would need better training?? This wasn’t just one “mistake” there were many. :(
Jerry, there is no hate involved here. The Lees and Goffs just want the people who screwed up to take responsibility, and for the discipline given to equal what happened. Losing three days of vacation is hardly punishment for helping to cost someone their life. And as Jeanine said, the caller reported that there was a child screaming in the car, and they didn’t even bother to send anyone to check it out. What if it were YOUR child in that car? You might feel differently then.
FWIW, we don’t “hate” anyone.
Last night I just heard new details of what happened to Denise. Yes, it is possible I could very much hate the monster who killed her.
Peggy, I am so sorry:( remember we are here for you. If you need to vent, or anything at all. sincerely~
I can’t help but wonder if Sherriff Davenport or the report Greg Martin (whom I begged to run this story about what happened to my family on ahome invasion could have somewhow never let this happen. By possibly seeing problem with the dispatchers and how they handled my case. About 30 trucks with teenagers wielding bats and guns rush up to my home looking for my son who was 16 at the time. They did not know him but apparently they were all rowled up by someone at Boomers at closing time. I immediatly dialed 911 and begged the dispatcher to send no just one police car as they were going to need at least 5 cars with two officers in each. Well, I found again again, explaining they had guns and were getting very roudy., and please to send help as soon as possible. About 15 minutes later 1 officer showed up and then the cars started to disperse, my husband told him they are getting away, they have guns you have to stop them, Put your lightson them tell themon you loudspeaker that they cannot move and call for backup. The officer nonchalantly got out of his car as the cars were just leaving, I’m talking about pickup trucks with 30 grown men in the back holding bats. The office kept saying to us what is going on, I explained to the officer I told the dispatcher we were under attack and to please send more cars, I ran back in the house and called again and BEGGED them to send more cars. They never did. The police and my husband exchanged words, my husband could not believe that he did not call for backup? The officer left. No more than 5 minutes after they left, the perps can back. It was unbelievalbe, a fight ensued and then the perps called the police and the police responded to THEM immediatly, they were drunk and beliegerent. I contacted the next day the internal affairs department to makea complaint, shortly after, Sherriff Davenport phoned me and explained he understood I hac an appointment with the Internal Affairs Division (why should HE know I had an appointment with THEM???? I phoned the Charlottte Sun to have this story publicized because I felt the dispatchers where taking this call way too lightly and something very serious couldhave ensued. Because of the way this was handled by the Charlotte County Sheriffs office we no longer felt safe living there, after being married 25 years and raising 5 children. On the way out the door that evening, one officer asked my do I always keep baseball bats by my front door? My answer was “yes, Deputy I have 4 boys and 1 girl all of whom play baseball and softball, I leave their cleats and gloves there too… do you see them? UNBELIEVABLE! I think if Sherriff Davenport had taken a look at my situation, and taken it seriously, I can’t help but think the case of Amber Lee may, may have just ended differently. Leslie, husband and family ran out of Charlotte County due to Sherriffs Department.
Leslie, I’m sorry, what an awful ordeal you had to go through.:(
It makes me wonder how many 911 calls slip through the cracks every day and if there wasn’t someone “checking up” on the calls we may never know? If Janet never called back to check up on her call than would we ever know? How many victims have died needlessly hoping that 911 would help.?
Hey everyone,
The one issue that REALLY bothers me about the 911 dispatchers is that they consistently question and determine the legitimacy of each call…If you are an effective dispatcher, you MUST remove the judgement piece…It is NOT their call to determine the worthiness or prioritize the seriousness of one’s call…
I cannot get this out of my head. Denise acted with such bravery and with a cool head, I believe she definitely is the exception to the rule when compared to how most of us women would have handled this tragic situation.
I don’t care if the bastard is driving a canary yellow Pacer, if someone calls, gives you the exact location of the vehicle, and explains that there is someone screaming and pounding on the window…You respond to that IMMEDIATELY without thought or judgement…
Here’s hoping that this law is passed and funded quickly!! God bless their family…I hope they get millions…Of course it will never replace Denise, but maybe it will give them comfort in knowing that they have initiated a positive change nationwide (hopefully) that will prevent others from experiencing such horrendous tragedies…I would love to see that Nathan have the financial stability to stay home with his boys and not have to worry about anything else…
Can’t wait to see the website deniseamberlee.org come to fruition…what a wonderful idea…
Take care everyone,
~Leisa
Hey everyone,
The one issue that REALLY bothers me about the 911 dispatchers is that they consistently question and determine the legitimacy of each call…If you are an effective dispatcher, you MUST remove the judgement piece…It is NOT their call to determine the worthiness or prioritize the seriousness of one’s call…
I cannot get this out of my head. Denise acted with such bravery and with a cool head, I believe she definitely is the exception to the rule when compared to how most of us women would have handled this tragic situation.
I don’t care if the bastard is driving a canary yellow Pacer, if someone calls, gives you the exact location of the vehicle, and explains that there is someone screaming and pounding on the window…You respond to that IMMEDIATELY without thought or judgement…
Here’s hoping that this law is passed and funded quickly!! God bless their family…I hope they get millions…Of course it will never replace Denise, but maybe it will give them comfort in knowing that they have initiated a positive change nationwide (hopefully) that will prevent others from experiencing such horrendous tragedies…I would love to see Nathan have the financial stability to stay home with his boys and not have to worry about anything else…
Can’t wait to see the website deniseamberlee.org come to fruition…what a wonderful forum for sharing updates and keeping us informed of what’s happening and how we may be able to possibly help…
Take care everyone,
~Leisa
Here is a thought…. why cant we have a type of amber alert “break ins” on the radio stations? When anyone is missing in the area it would be known on the radio right at the moment- So that everyone would be aware of what is going on and the community can help if they know whats going on. {it also could prevent would be perps who know that they would get caught because everyone would know to be on the look out} Although if 911 can’t dispatch a car it would probably be a far stretch to think they could get info to the radio. sigh….. there just has to be a better system.
I’m not sure who put this blog up, but if it’s one of the family members I know nothing I can say will make things better, but you do have my sympathy and prayers. I watched this story on Dateline just the other day and was filled with a number of emotions from sorrow to anger.
When I heard that her father was looking to get a new law passed I was pleased because of a past experience I had with 911, or rather our local police dept. here in Spokane, WA. I know what I’m about to say may seem trivial but I feel it is one of many things that contribute to problems with our 911 system.
I am a piano salesman, and at the time I was sitting in our store that has large glass windows looking out over the street. While I was sitting there one day I noticed a couple of teenage kids walking down the street that found some glass bottles lying in the gutter. They began to pick them up and just start smashing them in the street. They were just kids having dumb fun not looking to hurt anyone but still doing something they shouldn’t. It didn’t look like they were stopping any time soon, so I called our local police department here in spokane and reported the incident. I was very surprised when whomever it was that answered the phone told me I needed to call 911! I responded by telling them that this was not an emergency at all and that they should just send a patrol car to talk to these kids. They told me they don’t do that and that I would need to call 911 no matter what the incident was. So I hung up and called 911. I personally was a little embarassed and felt like I was wasting valuable resources on a trivial matter, but they said they’d send a car out and acted like it was no big deal to recieve that kind of a call. Long story not as long, I lost a lot of faith in the 911 system that day. I thought “If everybody is directed to do the same as I was, what happens if a real emergency call comes in and they’re talking to me about kids playing with bottles in the street?” In my opinion, most of the general public is trained that 911 is for emergencies… After my experience, I’m not so sure the people working the phones are. If they are receiving calls like mine all day (because the police dept. directed us to call them), how do they know if they’re handling a real emergency or not?
I just heard about this on tv & googled it. Thats how i came across your page. Its ironic because i just experienced something similar a few nights ago.
I live in northwest Fl. Im 24 & have 2 toddlers. I was at home alone & it was about 3 am when i heard yelling & screaming coming from the apartment below me. Startled awake i walked to the door & peeked outside when i saw about 15 people being very violent & trying to bust my neighbor’s door open with a fire extinguisher. They were threatening that they had guns & when they saw me watching them they started threatening me also. One man even came up & sat right in front of my door. I was terrified for myself, my kids & the person who’s door they were beating down, so i called 911. I told them to please send someone..that they were beating down a door & had smashed in a car windsheild, & that they had guns..Needless to say i sat here terrified for 47 minutes before police actually arrived. By then my father had gotten here & he watched as the police let most of them run away. Not to mention the fact that they only sent ONE officer & i TOLD them there were around 15 guys out there!!
I feel so let down by the whole “911″ thing…They took their sweet time but thank GOD everyone was ok. I FEEL ALOT LESS SAFE NOW & I think its completely unacceptable. 911 is for EMERGENCIES..& thats how EVERY call should be treated. God Bless Denise. I hope this serves as a wakeup call to law enforcement everywhere.
Jeanine (post dated May 22nd) your idea is a GREAT one! Here in SoCaL I OCCASIONALLY hear an amber alert on AM talk radio/news.
I myself thought a 24/7 TV rotation of Wanted Criminals and another of Missing Persons would be a good idea….
PS I’d love to know the specifics of dispatcher training, I hope Denise’s family gets to review the new policy and suggest changes.
For more info and Updates and offer ideas please visit http://www.deniseamberlee.org
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your loved one. On June 5, 2005, I lost
my only child; he died at the scene (building where he ran into for help) after three 911 calls were placed. EMS was finally dispatched after my son collapsed and died. I cry for my son daily. I miss him so much. My life will never be the same. What brings more sorrow is knowing that if 911 had arrived after the first call, my son would be alive today. Losing a child is the worst pain, unfathomable to anyone who has not experienced. I reached out to our Congressioanal Representative in an effort to get a Bill passed to mandate that all facilities have portable defribillators on premises, but another grieving parent had already experienced a similar loss. If I can be of any assistance, feel free to email me. Again, I am sorry for your loss. A greiveing Mother.
Stevonne, I am so truly sorry for your loss. words are so inadequate, I will continue to fight for 911 improvements as long as I live.
For more information about the Denise Amber
sorry my computer is acting up.
I was saying that for more information about the Denise Amber Lee Foundation you can visit http://www.deniseamberlee.org
I just saw the Lee story on 20/20 on WE. I’m truly appalled at the many wasted attempts by this young woman to save her own life. What kind of people are we that we actually see someone begging for help and we don’t even take the time to call 911? Two people saw her screaming, begging for her life and did not even try to help her, because they didn’t want to get involved. Then there’s the call that was never dispatched…..There’s no doubt in my mind, that she would still be alive now, if that call was properly dispatched. And the Sherriff who’s trying to justify their mistake, their crucial mistake, their lifesaving mistake, is just a bunch of crap. I feel sorry for her family, but I especially feel sorry for the many people who aided in her death. That’s something they will have to live for the rest of thier lives.