Published Wednesday, November 4, 1998
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First call at 7:36 p.m.
Below is a transcript of calls made to 911 by City Council member Al Rousso
on Monday, Nov. 2, 1998
DISPATCHER: 911, do you need police, fire or medic?
PARKING ATTENDANT: Police, ma'am.
DISP: Go ahead.
ATT: Um, we have, um, Councilman Rousso here at the Carillon. And he wants
a cop down here, um, in the parking garage.
DISP: What's wrong?
ATT: Um, a van hit his car. And he . . .
DISP: OK, this is Al Rousso?
ATT: Yeah.
DISP: OK, what kind of car does he have?
ATT: He has an Infiniti.
DISP: What color?
ATT: It's a dark blue or black Infiniti. Do you wanna talk to him?
DISP: No, that's not necessary. What level of the garage is he on?
ATT: Um, right here on the first level.
DISP: OK, we'll have an officer see him there.
Second call at 7:41 p.m.
DISP: 911, do you need police, fire or medic?
ROUSSO: Look, this is Councilman Al Rousso. I've got a suspicious van
parked next to my car in the parking lot of the Carillion Hotel (sic) --
Carillon.
DISP: Uh-huh.
ROUSSO: How long ago did we call for a police car?
ATT: (in background) About 10 minutes ago.
ROUSSO: About 10 minutes ago. There could be a bomb in there that could
blow up any minute now. I want somebody down here right away!
DISP: OK, sir.
ROUSSO: This is Councilman Al Rousso calling!
DISP: Ah, you told me, sir.
ROUSSO: (raising his voice) You get me a car here right now!
DISP: OK, sir, do not yell at me.
ROUSSO: Well, I'm sorry. This is ridiculous!
DISP: OK.
ROUSSO: This could be a bomb the night before election! I'm not taking any
chances!
DISP: OK, that doesn't mean you have to yell at me.
ROUSSO: I have to! I want better service than this!
DISP: No, you don't have to. You don't have to yell at me.
ROUSSO: I do, too!
DISP: I'm not a driver. I'm not an officer.
ROUSSO: Well, you get 'em out here fast!
DISP: I'll give them the message.
ROUSSO: If this bomb goes off, if there's a bomb in here, you'll have 20
people killed!
DISP: Sir, I'm putting the call in, OK?
ROUSSO: All right!
DISP: Thank you. Bye.
Third call at 7:50 p.m.
DISP: 911, do you need police, fire or medic?
ROUSSO: This is now 10 minutes to eight. At 7:30 we called you about a bomb
scare -- at the Carillon parking lot -- to get a police car over here right
away. Twenty minutes ago. Don't worry about it -- the bomb went off and
killed about 400 people, so don't worry about it, OK?
DISP: Sir, what is your name?
ROUSSO: None of your ------ business! Gimme a police car, will you? Connect
me with a police car, right now!
DISP: Sir, what is your name?
ROUSSO: I don't give a damn! Gimme a -- Councilman Al Rousso, that's who it
is, from the City Council. Gimme a police car right now! ---- it!
DISP: OK, sir, do you . . .
ROUSSO (shouting loudly): Gimme a police car!
DISP: Sir, I'm connecting you with my supervisor . . .
ROUSSO: Gimme your supervisor, damn it!
(Pause of about 45 seconds.)
ROUSSO: Hello? Hello!
DISP: Sir, just a minute, I'm connecting you with a supervisor.
ROUSSO: Hello!
DISP: Sir, hold on just a minute.
SUPERVISOR: Police communications, Moore.
ROUSSO: Moore?
MOORE: Yes, sir.
ROUSSO: This is Councilman Al Rousso.
MOORE: Um-hmm.
ROUSSO: I've got nothing about (sic) complaints on 911 since I've been on
City Council. Nothing but complaints. And now I see why.
MOORE: What's wrong, sir?
ROUSSO: What's wrong? I called at exactly 21 minutes ago . . .
MOORE: Um-hmm.
ROUSSO: . . . about a suspicious van parked in the Carillion (sic) parking
lot next to my car. A suspicious van that might have a bomb in it. OK?
MOORE: OK.
ROUSSO: Can you hear that?
MOORE: Yes, sir.
ROUSSO: I still haven't gotten a police car here to look into it!
MOORE: Mr. Rousso . . .
ROUSSO (shouting loudly): ------ it!
MOORE: Mr. Rousso . . .
ROUSSO: What?!!
MOORE: I'm trying to help you.
ROUSSO: I'm gonna tell the council you ain't worth a ----! It's 22 minutes
now!
MOORE: Mr. Rousso, the first call said there's a wreck in the parking lot.
Sir . . .
ATTENDANT: Sir? I'm calling from the parking garage?
MOORE: Yes?
ATT: One has come. We're gonna see what we can do from there. Thank you.
MOORE: Are you with Mr. Rousso?
ATT: No, I'm not. I'm a cashier in the parking garage.
MOORE: Um-hmm.
