Hoping 911 tragedy leads to training

COEUR d'ALENE — Even though Nathan Lee believes a lack of communication with the 911 system likely prevented his wife being saved from her attacker, he makes it plain he has utmost respect for dispatchers.

Lee brought the message of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation he started in memory of his wife to local emergency personnel at the Idaho State Police facility on Monday to start his five-stop schedule throughout the state this week.

"I appreciate what you do," Lee told the group. "I hope you realize how important you are. You are that first link (to emergency response). If that link doesn't work, nothing else will."

Denise was cutting her son Noah's hair on the back porch of their Florida home on Jan. 17, 2008, when she was kidnapped by Michael King. Later that day, King raped and murdered the 21-year-old mother of two and buried her in a shallow grave. King was sentenced to death and is awaiting execution.

Five 911 calls were made, including one by Denise from King's phone. Failures were found in the way the dispatchers handled a call from a witness.

Lee has spoken to an estimated 10,000 emergency personnel nationwide in the past eight years as part of the foundation's message to have states adopt minimum training standards for dispatchers. Twenty-four states don't have such requirements. Dispatcher training in Idaho is voluntary, but not mandatory.

"You are professionals," Lee said. "I implore you to get involved in this movement and show up in Boise."

ISP Lt. Kevin Haight said a bill on minimum 911 training standards will be floated to the Idaho Legislature next session. Haight said the state's police academy estimates it would cost $10,000 to $15,000 per year for administrative costs for such a certification program. He said a funding solution may have been identified, but he declined to elaborate since it hasn't been finalized.

Lori Flood, a Post Falls Police emergency communications trainer, was among those who attended the morning class on Monday. She said it was emotional and energizing.

"It is very important that we train our new people with a standard," she said. "It defines what we do."

She said PFPD performs random call reviews for all its dispatchers as a way of teaching what was handled right and what can be improved.

"This class inspires me to think of little things to make sure everybody is on the same page and make sure everybody's training is sufficient," Flood said.

Ryan Chambers, an independent contractor and former dispatcher hired by Lee, reminded dispatchers that every time they answer the phone they could potentially save a life.

"That's a huge responsibility," he said. "It's hard to find people to do this job. The family appreciates you guys so much."

Lee said two states — Florida and Arkansas — have adopted minimum training standards after presentations by the foundation. Other states have made other changes such as changing the minimum number of dispatchers on duty from one to two.

"The biggest thing for me is hearing from individuals who said they needed a wakeup call because they were getting complacent," Lee said. "Hearing those stories makes it worth it."

Lee said he realizes achieving change with many states is a hurdle.

"There's a lot of power brokers who don't want to be told what to do," he said. "They want to make their agency the way they want it and don't react well to that change."

Lee said he's encouraged a bill will be presented to the Idaho Legislature as that hasn't happened in some states. He said it's also heartwarming to know about 400 emergency personnel throughout Idaho will hear his message this week.

He said he has no plans to slow his mission. As a former manager at Best Buy, Lee said he can relate to dispatchers dealing with customers, oftentimes with negativity, on a daily basis.

"I want to keep helping (law enforcement) as much as I can," he said.

Lee said it's difficult being on the road away from his children — Noah, 10, Adam, 8 and Avery, 5 — who are watched by his parents and Denise's during those times. But Denise's story continues to make a difference with dispatchers across the country.

"What happened was a black eye, but it's being used in a positive way to re-motivate people," he said.