Photo credit: Colleen O’Connell Smyth / Humans of St. Louis
Alison: I had just gotten home to watch the 9 p.m. news when I heard a loud crash. It sounded like the porch collapsed. I was sitting 20 feet from the front door, so I got up to check it out and was like, “What in the world?” My front door was wide open and I could see some people running away. I started to chase them on foot but then decided to get in my car thinking, “I’m going to find out who this is!” I drove around a few blocks to see if I could spot any of the people who had tried to break in.
About 30 minutes before the door was kicked in, I left the house with a friend and remembered seeing some people standing at the edge of our street near the church. They would have seen me go out the front door, but I ended up returning through the back. So they must have thought we weren’t home. I was so angry. I should have been afraid, but I felt violated.
When the police finally came an hour and a half later, they looked around our house and said, “What did they want in here?” like there was nothing of value. I thought, “Okay, I don’t need you guys. I’ll handle it myself next time.”
There was this giant footprint on the door. The intruders had used that force to kick in a weak point. My husband’s dad is a carpenter, so we had him come over and he rebuilt the threshold, fixed the door jamb, and we got a security door. Three days later, a detective showed up and said, “I’m here. You had a robbery?” I was like, “They didn’t take any fingerprints and the door is already fixed. What do you want?”
Riley: I know the police can’t be there immediately, but…
Alison: Yes, they can. They’re right down the street. What are you talking about?
Alison: I had a car accident on 20th Street and Delmar. A lady’s vehicle and mine had collided, but when I got out of my car to get her insurance information, she backed up and drove off. I called 911, but they never answered. The phone line kept rolling over like, “Someone will be right with you,” then it would hang up. So I called again. Same thing. A dispatcher never picked up. I finally left the scene because there was no damage and she was gone. I drove to my doctor’s appointment about 25 minutes away in Des Peres, and I got a call back from the police after I arrived. I picked up and they said, “Did you call 911?” But I told them, “Nope.” What was the point?
Riley: I haven’t had good interactions with the police either. The one time I called 911 was for a bank robbery. I was in my car at an ATM on Florissant and St. Louis Avenue waiting for my turn. The guy in front of me was putting stacks of bills into the machine making a deposit. He was taking a long time and all of a sudden another guy walked up, pulled out a gun, and they began to struggle. Money was flying everywhere and I heard a shot.
I backed up to call 911, but nobody answered. Then the guy with the gun went one way and the driver drove off. A homeless man came up and picked up the money off the ground. After I made the call, I went about my business.
Three hours later a detective called me. I told him what happened and he said my story sounded suspicious. This happened at an ATM where there are tons of cameras around. Why would I lie? They had access to the bank cameras and could call and get the video. There I was, reporting a crime and you’re calling me suspicious? I wouldn’t call again. It would have to be a dire emergency. I know the police are busy, but I don’t need to be accused of a crime.
Colleen: What do you think needs to be done to change the 911 system?
Alison: Answer the phone. Answer the calls that come in. That’s it. You can put people on hold, but just answer. Tell your supervisor you have five people waiting. Hire someone to come in.
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Alison and Riley Owens are North St. Louis City residents.
Colleen O’Connell Smyth / Humans of St. Louis contributed to this photo story.
This story is a collaboration between Humans of St. Louis and Forward Through Ferguson for #Transforming911, an accountability and advocacy tool that examines St. Louis’ 911 system and serves as a call to reimagine public safety.
Learn more and get involved at transforming911.org.