Pasadena Police Department

Elite '08

288

358

ericka L.

Pasadena, CA

You always hope you won't have a run-in with the police. You don't want to be a victim of a crime (or a suspect, for that matter.) But sometimes you need the police, and if you have a good experience, you are grateful they were there.

I programmed the telephone number for the Pasadena Police Department into my phone a couple of months ago, after I heard what I feared were gunshots in my neighborhood. (Come to think of it, I never found out what happened that night, but I heard sirens almost immediately after I called - quick response time!) Since then, I've only called one other time...until last Wednesday.

I was in a pretty bad accident on the 134 - a motorcycle hit another car and then slammed into the back of my car. My rear windshield exploded and I hit my brakes, watching in horror as the motorcyclist flew through the air and landed two freeway lanes away.

I jumped out of my car with my cell phone in hand and ran over to the man, who was unresponsive. I truly thought he might be dead. I had already dialed 911 but wasn't able to get through.

As several off-duty medical personnel stopped to assist, I moved my car to the shoulder and continued dialing 911, as did several other people around me. None of us could get through. Either the line rang endlessly, or the call wouldn't go through at all.

After trying 311, my ex, and even Masa to no avail, I was shaking and in tears. I finally remembered I had the number for the Pasadena Police Department in my phone and called, praying that someone would help me. As soon as the dispatcher answered, I blurted out that I had been in a bad accident and couldn't get through to 911. I begged to be patched through.

The dispatcher asked if I was hurt; I told her I was okay and she  promised to stay on the line with me while she dialed 911. We waited for five straight minutes as the line rang and we received a standard message over and over: "You have reached CHP's 911 Emergency Line. All operators are currently busy, please stay on the line." Throughout my panicky fright, the dispatcher was reassuring and professional, eventually calming me down. When we finally got through, we learned help was already on the way. The dispatcher checked once again that I was okay before she left the line.

Not a single one of the half-dozen people standing on the side of the freeway managed to get through to 911 except for me. One person actually tried to get connected by the Burbank Police Department, but they did not stay on the line and she never got through.

The dispatcher that helped me that evening exemplified a dedication to service that reflects on her entire department, so I am giving five stars to the Pasadena Police. Thank you for being there when I needed you!

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