Two Members of My Family Died
Note: The author, Dianna Martin, is a dispatcher with the Cobb County (Ga.)Communications Center
TWO MEMBERS of my family died today. It was sudden and unexpected, yet it was something for which I have trained. It was a dreadful thing that I knew I might someday face. It was something I feared. I knew what had to be done and I did it. It was something for which I have been trained. I felt the pain of loss yet I continued to do that in which I was trained. Some call it autopilot.
The first sign that there was a problem came from the radio.”Shots fired, signal 63.”
An ambulance was sent and officers from all over responded. Then came all the calls from neighbors, “Someone is shooting in my neighborhood.”Then came the panicked call from the home of a Samaritan, “There is an officer shot, he is in my kitchen.”Command staff needs to be notified. Calls from the media, “Do you have a statement, can you tell me more than I hear on your radio?”
“Cobb 911, what is your emergency?”
“Yes sir, I know you think the music is too loud. We will send you an officer as soon as possible.”
The ambulance arrived, he was transported and the word came back, “He will be okay.” Relief. Now, on to the task at hand, a barricaded man and a hostage. I, we, had faced the crisis. The worst surely had come and gone. More work to be done. The SWAT team was in place. Negotiations were made. Soon another suspect will be in custody and more work to be done.
“Cobb police and fire.”
More media calls.
Signal 86, signal 29, signal 45, signal 53A, signal 38, signal 41, signal 15, signal 9,
code 18. . .“Cobb police and fire.”
“The news is saying an officer is dead, is it my husband?” Knots in my stomach. My heart is racing.
“We have no word from the scene confirming that.”
Silence falls in the room. Even the phones seem to know it is true.
“Cobb 911, what is your emergency?” Another crisis, not knowing, waiting in fear.
“Cobb police and fire.”
A request, “Supervisor, please.” All eyes focus on her face. All ears hear her words. “Two officers dead, do not release the names, we need to notify the family.” Pain in my heart. My throat is tight. Tears fall from my eyes.
“Cobb police and fire.”
“Yes, when was your daughter last seen?”
“Your house is on fire? What is your address?
“I’ll notify animal control of the barking dog.”
Word from the scene, “More officers are injured.” I wonder who, could it be my friend?
“Cobb 911, what is your emergency?”
Two members of my family just died, others are hurt.
“Cobb police and fire.”
“The media says more officers have been hurt, is it my son? My daughter?”
“Do you know who is dead? Is it my sister? My brother?”
I wish I knew, I’m worried, too. But, I can’t say that.
“We have no confirmation of that from the scene. Some family and friends are at the hospital. Perhaps you can check there.” I wish I could check there. Please, someone, tell me this is a bad dream. This can’t be real. Word from the scene: Sgt. Steve Reeves and Officer Steve
Gilner are dead. The injured are being transported to the hospital.“Not them, they were so young. They were such good people. They were my friends. They were members of my family.”
“Cobb police and fire.”
POSTSCRIPT: Sgt. Reeves and Officer Gilner of the Cobb County Police Department were killed by a barricaded suspect during a SWAT detail on Friday, July 23, 1999. Earlier in the day the suspect had shot and wounded another Cobb County police officer who was responding to a domestic disturbance. The suspect’s mother was also in the residence and believed to be a hostage. Fearing for the continued safety of the hostage, SWAT made entry into the residence. Both officers were shot and killed during this entry attempt. The next morning a Cobb County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed the suspect.