September 11th 911 tapes

[JBE 328]

I'm wondering what you guys think about these tapes being released. I think it's going to reopen a lot of old wounds for everyone involved. Not only the families of the deceased, but the folks, like me, who were the last person someone spoke to before the caller met their fate.

I have no desire to listen to them, but if the families want to listen to give them whatever closure they need/want. So be it.

What I don't understand, is why the tapes are edited so that only our voices can be heard. If it was such a big deal that the NY Times and a number of families sued to have those tapes released, why not just release them in the unedited, uncensored version for everyone to hear??

I'm sorry, but I don't buy this whole privacy thing. To me, it seems, you want the details, you should have every single word that was spoken on those phones. People asking dispatchers to call relatives. People threatening to, and ultimately, jumping. Others begging for help, when all we can tell them is to stay put and wait for help.

The backlash is already beginning from some of the relatives. People pi$$ed off or upset they weren't given proper notice that these tapes are coming out. The press are licking their chops over this one. Wait till later this week when the tapes get released. It's going to be a feeding frenzy.

I've pretty much held the same feelings since after everything happened. The press, nor the public really need to hear these tapes.

Stay safe, everyone.

[Guest]

Well – its clear the FDNY/City/City OEM/ whoever is responsible for the distribution of these recordings made a pretty nasty mistake. Apparently, emails stating the release date and such – that were to go out to counseling services – were delayed over the weekend (or something). Its unfortunate and I’m sure the responsible party is out of a job. As far as the recordings themselves, I think (granted, I’m not a legal expert on this stuff) that radio transmissions are a matter of public record. So, it may just be that the City has little choice but to release the tapes when facing serious legal action. However, I’m a bit skeptical as to what these tapes, if anything, will do. As you mention, there is the possibility of reopening old wounds, bringing back horrific memories and aggravating paralyzing cases of PTSD and general anxiety. But, on the other side, I suppose, for some families these tapes will offer closure – apparently some people didn’t even know their spouses had phoned 911, I think one lady even fainted when she heard her husbands voice on a recording (she never knew he called 911). It really is a double edged sword. However, from where I sit there really isn’t anything beneficial to the general public engrained in these set of tapes. The Fire, EMS, and Police tapes were for more beneficial and important to release as they shed light on what went wrong that day and why it went wrong, the scope of the calamity, and the difficulties associated with responding to such a large event. I don’t think you will find anything like that in these tapes – instead these are a massive set of last words. I would have preferred the city send a personal copy to each to those who lost a loved one at that persons request. No victim wants to be hearing their husband, son, mother, or father’s voice being blasted over the airwaves – it does far more harm than good. But, like you said, the media will stop at nothing to sink their fangs into a juicy story – all too often making a buck off of the pain of others.

Edited March 29, 2006 by 66Alpha1

[210 91]

I'm wondering what you guys think about these tapes being released. I think it's going to reopen a lot of old wounds for everyone involved. Not only the families of the deceased, but the folks, like me, who were the last person someone spoke to before the caller met their fate.

I have no desire to listen to them, but if the families want to listen to give them whatever closure they need/want. So be it.

What I don't understand, is why the tapes are edited so that only our voices can be heard. If it was such a big deal that the NY Times and a number of families sued to have those tapes released, why not just release them in the unedited, uncensored version for everyone to hear??

I'm sorry, but I don't buy this whole privacy thing. To me, it seems, you want the details, you should have every single word that was spoken on those phones. People asking dispatchers to call relatives. People threatening to, and ultimately, jumping. Others begging for help, when all we can tell them is to stay put and wait for help.

The backlash is already beginning from some of the relatives. People pi$$ed off or upset they weren't given proper notice that these tapes are coming out. The press are licking their chops over this one. Wait till later this week when the tapes get released. It's going to be a feeding frenzy.

I've pretty much held the same feelings since after everything happened. The press, nor the public really need to hear these tapes.

Stay safe, everyone.

←

I agree, I can't see opening thousands of wounds. However, if they insist on releasing tapes then release the entire tape not just the dispatchers portion. Unfortunately the almighty dollar is gong to rear its' ugly head and taint things.

Edited March 29, 2006 by 210

[JBE 328]

It was actually the decision of the court of appeals to release only our voices. Citing privacy concerns. What about my privacy??? I know once someone from the press finds out who I am, I'm going to get phone calls up the wazoo.

My other concern is the eventual lawsuits that will probably come out of this. Don't really feel like dealing with that stuff. I've been asked about this day more times than I like to admit. I tend not to talk about it with people who aren't in the Fire/PD/EMS line of work. If they push, I give them one or two little stories that quickly shut them up. One of them quickly edited, goes like this.

"Fire Dep.."

"Never mind,"

"Whaddaya mean, never mind??"

"He just jumped"

"Ok" (CLICK)

Do the public or the vultures in the press want to hear that??? I think not.

[JM15 386]

like 66alpha1 said I think that only the families should be able to listen to these tapes. Some families have to have closure on what the last moments of their loved ones lives were. Many families didnt get phone calls in those last moments. I just think that the general public shouldnt be hearing these tapes, and I especially don't think family members should be hearing their loved ones last words on CNN. It is almost disrespectful for news agencies to try to make money and get ratings using 9/11 victims last words.

[Guest]

I think that releasing the tapes is a good idea, but only from a strictly educational view. If you want to learn from what happened and how to operate more efficiently, there should be no problem. If you want to rip apart what people did on the tapes, then you should have no buisness hearing or reading them. Not to minimize what happened, but as professionals we should treat this as just another call. Learn from it, see what we can fix, and do a better job the next time.

[Guest]

I think that releasing the tapes is a good idea, but only from a strictly educational view. If you want to learn from what happened and how to operate more efficiently, there should be no problem. If you want to rip apart what people did on the tapes, then you should have no buisness hearing or reading them. Not to minimize what happened, but as professionals we should treat this as just another call. Learn from it, see what we can fix, and do a better job the next time.

←

You wount learn anything from these tapes.

[CAM502 6]

Hey ninja,

Just to clear it up, these are tapes of people calling 911 asking for help. They have nothing to do with operations that day. Nothing to learn here....

Edited March 29, 2006 by CAM502

[Guest KFD236]

I would not want these tapes put out to the general public. If they want to give it to the families that wanted to hear their friend's or relative's last words so be it. But no one else. Who in the world would even want to think about it let alone relive that horrible day that will be remembered for ever.