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- Aug 2, 2004
I'm not exactly sure how the entire investigation - from the Missing Person's Report being taken to his body being discovered by Memphis PD was handled... but to everyone stating that the Dispatcher, the Police, etc. "dropped the ball" on the 911 call, like another person stated, cell phone calls are nearly impossible to track unless the caller is still on the line.
In California, when a cell phone dials 911 - the call immediately goes to California Highway Patrol, simply because the cell phone, although located in the state, there is no way of determining whether the caller's in Northern Cal or Southern Cal, that is, until the call connects. Once the call connects, the towers closest to where the cell phone is located will give an estimated address or location.
I'm not sure if Tennessee works that way, but I'm guessing it's somewhat similar. Now, if the cell phone connection gave a mere estimated location, which could be any set of square mileage, depending on the cell phone carrier's towers, then the best thing that the dispatcher could do was dispatch an unit to the area of the estimated location of the call. Unless the dispatcher didn't do this - then he/she dropped the ball. Next, once dispatched, the unit was set to respond and look for evidence of a crime. Unless PD didn't respond, then they dropped the ball.
I'm not exactly sure when (date/time) he was reported missing, when (time) the 911 call was made, and if Memphis PD unit that responded knew about the possibility of him being in some sort of danger. It is until now, going back and putting the pieces together, that the entire story is being put together/timeline. Sadly, that's the way a lot of these situations end up.
Now, if while searching for him, PD knew about the call + the contents of the call's audio and the fact that it was his cell phone..then the smart thing was to immediately designate a search team in that area. Again, I'm not sure of the exact details of the situation..
Regardless, RIP L.W.
In California, when a cell phone dials 911 - the call immediately goes to California Highway Patrol, simply because the cell phone, although located in the state, there is no way of determining whether the caller's in Northern Cal or Southern Cal, that is, until the call connects. Once the call connects, the towers closest to where the cell phone is located will give an estimated address or location.
I'm not sure if Tennessee works that way, but I'm guessing it's somewhat similar. Now, if the cell phone connection gave a mere estimated location, which could be any set of square mileage, depending on the cell phone carrier's towers, then the best thing that the dispatcher could do was dispatch an unit to the area of the estimated location of the call. Unless the dispatcher didn't do this - then he/she dropped the ball. Next, once dispatched, the unit was set to respond and look for evidence of a crime. Unless PD didn't respond, then they dropped the ball.
I'm not exactly sure when (date/time) he was reported missing, when (time) the 911 call was made, and if Memphis PD unit that responded knew about the possibility of him being in some sort of danger. It is until now, going back and putting the pieces together, that the entire story is being put together/timeline. Sadly, that's the way a lot of these situations end up.
Now, if while searching for him, PD knew about the call + the contents of the call's audio and the fact that it was his cell phone..then the smart thing was to immediately designate a search team in that area. Again, I'm not sure of the exact details of the situation..
Regardless, RIP L.W.
