# 911 hanging up on caller for swearing -- can they DO that? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308 "2009-05-04T17:22:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/221 "2009-05-09T13:59:00Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Since this happened seven months ago, I wonder if we have any information about what’s happened to the cop and the girl (and her dad) since then. Apparently, he got a [two week’s supsension without pay](http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/Infowar/44664) and had to sit through some training classes. Slap on the wrist. He should have been fired. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/222 "2009-05-10T22:43:26Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Since this happened seven months ago, I wonder if we have any information about what’s happened to the cop and the girl (and her dad) since then. The father, fortunately recovered and doesn’t seem to have any permanent damage from the seizure. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/223 "2009-05-11T02:36:24Z")
If this is the first time he’s been through a _grand mal_, I can tell you, even with meds, they’re fucking HELL. (Well, the aftermath – I don’t remember any of my seizures) -headaches so bad you literally cannot turn your head one inch to the side without excruciating pain. (And no, it’s not hyperbole, they are that intense) -the typical bite your tongue/lip/cheek, etc (I have a scar on my arm from where I apparently bit it when I was sleeping on it!) -that panicky, out of it feeling that lasts for days -dizzy, can’t walk without someone helping you So even though there’s no lasting harm, I know what her poor dad was going through. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/224 "2009-05-11T05:01:04Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > While I recognize the satisfaction in that, I’m not super-eager to discard his years of police experience based on one incident. A pattern, possibly, but he can be made “gone” from the 911 service and still be useful elsewhere. Maybe the evidence locker…or someplace else he will never come in contact with the public. The problem with his attitude is that it is pretty much completely incompatible with the idea of being helpful to anyone in an emergency. If he cannot address a situation like this on the phone how does he deal with them in person. I can think of half a dozen times that I got screamed at and or sworn at by freaking out family members. The worst thing i ever said back was, “your screaming is not helping us” and went back to work. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308/225 "2009-05-11T15:23:47Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Apparently, he got a [two week’s supsension without pay](http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/Infowar/44664) and had to sit through some training classes. Slap on the wrist. He should have been fired. How about the girl? Was here “arrest” stricken from the records? Or is she now ummm listed as “a criminal and very not nice person”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/911-hanging-up-on-caller-for-swearing-can-they-do-that/495308.md?page=11)