Chicago Police Zone 6 - District 8 Dispatch Scanner Audio Officer Ella French shot and killed

[@ZaphodTHEBeeblebrox]

the dispatcher here, Keith, deserves any and all commendations there is. the level head he was able to maintain was absolutely astounding. he deserves a massive pat on the back

[@woxfan82]

I always said dispatchers dont get enough credit! Great job SIR!

[@missangel412]

AGREE!

[@Arejay6791]

He absolutely does. This is horrible.

[@harrietpearson816]

I've worked as a dispatcher. Your friend Keith was pure perfection. He took control and ran this like a maestro conducts an orchestra.

[@CatharsisByProxy]

Dispatcher over here here can vouch for that. If I were out in the field I’d feel at ease with someone like Keith on my shift.

[@timcaldwell8081]

I have heard ALOT of dispatchers in my 20 years and have yet to hear a dispatcher take control of a priority 1 situation like this before. OUTSTANDING. Kudos to that dispatcher, he is a superstar!! RIP CPD

[@SynicalDan]

This recording needs to be played and studied in dispatcher training nationally. I heard a dispatcher, a supervisor, an incident commander, peer-support and coms manager all in one professional, level-headed person.

[@billyd8401]

His decision making and tactical command was unbelievable. This needs to be the standard.

[@SynicalDan]

@@billyd8401 I agree. I've been exposed to many, many dispatchers, and this individual sets the standard. I'd like to think much of this is attributable to CPD training, but much of this is down to experience.

[@krose1]

@@SynicalDan as someone who doesn’t work in law enforcement or with dispatchers - my impression is that he was hogging a lot of the air waves early on when information was still coming in from the officer at the crime scene and when they were coordinating sending officers to the hospitals. Curious about your thoughts on it!

[@SynicalDan]

@@krose1 Lots to unpack. Last night I watched a report on WGN about Keith Thorton Jr., the dispatcher. He was previously a cop and an EMT, which explains certain things (like advising to go to the trauma center instead of a closer lower level hospital). Once he got the WHO (unit number, identifies patrol area and officers) the WHERE and WHAT (shots fired, officers shot, suspect locations), he sends everybody (everyone that heard the distress call went to help anyway), then he can talk more and coordinate activities. It only took him about 15 seconds to who, where and what. Unless Chicago dispatchers are different, the level of involvement from him is not the norm. The only department close to it that I have heard is NYC.

[@krose1]

@@SynicalDan thanks for your insight!

[@lazo4803]

In 26 years of LEO. THIS IS THE BEST DISPATCHER I have ever had on a priority call. Awesome control of the air … “Do your job take care of my officers and I got the rest”. RIP Officer French and God speed Recovery for the surviving officer. God Bless all the men and woman in blue !!

[@SynicalDan]

Same here and agreed. This recording needs to be played and studied in dispatcher training nationally. I heard a dispatcher, a supervisor, an incident commander, peer-support and coms manager all in one professional.

[@philliphathaway4399]

This was so hard to listen to. The hatred towards cops is ridiculous when do you draw the line and start to truly punish these thugs.

[@glennweaver3014]

Punishing thugs is long overdue.

[@tammygouletschrader8785]

This dispatcher kept his cool throughout a tense and emotional situation. Great and Amazing Job Sir.

[@harrietpearson816]

Wow!!! That dispatcher is amazing! This audio should be used for training nationwide and the dispatcher should receive a recognition for his work.

[@ICEBEARSHOCKEY]

Great job dispatch. Sounds like nothing could’ve been done better. Too bad they couldn’t save her. ❤️

[@vern8206]

That dispatcher was absolutely incredible! THAT’S how you handle a situation!! With poise and calm.. He was controlling the situation in the midst of chaos

[@juliechew4783]

Wow this dispatcher needs to be publicly appauled. I imagine he would not want it because he probably just thinks he was just doing his job but I hope he realizes this tragedy could have been a lot worse without him. Thanks for taking control and doing everything you could to save both of the officers

[@davidkahler7]

Let me add my kudos to this dispatcher. Excellent work. Just sorry it had to be in such dire circumstances. Prayers for my CPD brothers and sisters.

[@BingobaybeeSugarman]

Everyone needs that dispatcher in their life. God bless you all and prayers for everyone.

[@Slick2431]

RIP to is so sad . I saw The picture of all the cops standing in front of the hospital one of the saddest pictures I’ve ever seen

[@robertdemeo4783]

Great job to the dispatcher, one of the best I ever heard... sorry for the loss

[@fuzzresponder2225]

"SAY HER NAME"-"OFFICER Ella French"! RIP 😥🙏😥🙏

[@tyeashat]

At 13:23 that officer said round them up and execute them. i am so with him!! 😭 R.I.P. Officer French 🙏🏿

[@robb_rose]

And does that as blue make us any better ? I know it sucks. But I don’t think French would want that for her memory

[@tyeashat]

@@357-s6f Yeah, i heard that too!

[@thomaswh31]

Then you're no better than the criminals they were hunting. Once police allow their emotions to dictate their actions, that's all she wrote.

[@user-yn4nl9nr3u]

How about u work the job😢

[@BTDT74]

The dispatcher has a gift without a doubt. He remained level headed and knew he had a job to do and that he did. The mental clarity he kept through this terrible tragedy shows it can be done. He kept herself from becoming emotionally involved which allowed him to be the main gear among other gears in the different events that took place. Good job dispatch! May the Lord provide comfort for the officers and their families as well as the dispatchers!

[@UnDeAdSpRaYe]

How can you not decipher a man voices dude. Jesus

[@rhiannonspradley73]

I completely agree with you, this man is phenomenal. His name is Keith Thornton.

[@BTDT74]

@@UnDeAdSpRaYe, that's besides the point of the job that was done well.. As far as trying to decipher if it's male or female voice, it sounded at times to be a man and then sometimes a female voice. Once again, it's irrelevant... No need to get yourself tore up over it.

[@dwaydway1]

Dispatch did a great job

[@rickdoner5181]

In all my years, that dispatcher has to be the best I have ever heard, and I have heard a LOT of them. If they are not someone who trains dispatchers they should be, and by more than Chicago PD. If a 911 system was smart they would bring them in to teach their staff.

[@griz9112]

as a former dispatcher this brought tears to my eyes, great job

[@stevepoyner6962]

Dispatcher did a good job keeping everyone calm and focused on getting the officers to the hospital and the suspects caught!

[@jed3350]

What a fantastic dispatcher. RIP Officer French and prayers for the other Officer.🙏

[@pattimcintyre9347]

This dispatcher was great, God bless CPD!

[@chadcasale4216]

Gotta get them to a trauma center. Truer words have never been spoken.

[@derrickcoleman2508]

My prayers and thoughts, to those officers, their agency and families, and to all stay safe and vigilant!!!!! 😳☺️. Dispatch great job, thank you!

[@OhMyPod]

Every time I hear this exchange, I get chills.

[@cherylingram4693]

I hope I could be that calm. He did an excellent job. Well done Keith. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Rotor_nator]

Wow! That dispatcher was phenomenal! A+

[@CatharsisByProxy]

That dispatcher’s long pause between @12:17 and 12:31 kills me.

[@TheRealPrimeOne]

To me,it sounded like Keith was weeping when he was informed that Officer French had been struck in the head by the officers who were transporting her to the hospital 🏥. He got himself recomposed quickly though because he knew he had a job to do. Keith really did his best to save Officer French’s life by ensuring that she got conveyed to the hospital ASAP. Unbelievable professionalism on his part in such a high pressure situation with so many moving parts and a ton of emotion felt by every CPD officer responding to the 10-1.

[@sheilayourdon1015]

So emotional 😢 awesome job on dispatching! God bless them all 💙🖤💙

[@jeffmiller2075]

So sad . God bless Officer French. Praying for the other officers recovery. They need to bring back the death penalty.

[@aliciaperry9627]

Our condolences go out to Officer French's family. Any updates on her partner?

[@tookes9]

That dispatcher is on 🔥🔥🔥

[@woxfan82]

I always said dispatchers dont get enough credit! Great job SIR!

[@peteparsons3915]

Dispatch was very good during this event. PD did a great job responding and keeping the air open.

[@TheMilwaukeeMark]

That dispatcher is not fuckin' around.

[@davidmontville4885]

12:32 'Shot in the head between the eyes.' Suspects in custody, for now, but will be out on bail tomorrow. Chicago Dems.

[@pimpjuice192]

This dispatcher is amazing

[@Gmailaccount717]

14:50 "Take them to the morgue."

[@thebronzetoo]

That was AWESOME.

[@MediosCorporativos]

For ever and ever will always love the folks in blue. Blue lives matter and excellent job by #chicagopolice perfect job by dispatch. Thank you for all you do and deeply trouble by the death of officer #french

[@RandomThings911]

Absolutely amazing job by that dispatcher

[@CatharsisByProxy]

And yet us dispatchers are still classified as *administrative support secretaries* rather than public safety / protective services and emergency first-responders…

[@georgeparker555]

I would consider dispatch as a member of service

[@trishbender7940]

Can’t hear the audio please!!

[@kln8128]

Great job dispatch...he took control..kept others off the air...hope he gets recognized for this.. sad sad event...back the blue

[@lyndalbrown1148]

My god !!! What you have here is a dispatcher that immediately became an Incident Commander! If he wasn’t promoted and given more money it’s a disgrace. You cannot find a better dispatcher than this !!!

[@missangel412]

💔💔

[@chrisforslund4664]

good job dispatcher

[@maestromike91971]

If you have a smartphone or tablet. Especially an iPad, you can get free scanners and a few you pay for. You can choose every city and county . So if you want to listen to your location or anywhere in the country, check police or scanners. I have one on my iPad and of course one in my cruiser.

[@cherylg46]

Dispatcher did a good job.

[@mctruckdriver]

My Heros.....

[@tookes9]

Who is this dispatcher ?????

[@matthew53690]

Keith Thornton is his name. Great man

[@billyd8401]

He's a boss.

[@pjhaebe]

I have no idea why but the further east you go, the bigger the cluster on the radio. Compare west coast with new York, Chicago, Boston etc. What a total mess

[@georgeparker555]

This radio sounds great considering the circumstances

[@g-man2228]

Great job Dispatcher! Gods speed sister…🇺🇸

[@sylviasodyssey777]

⚖️🖤💙💚💜❤️🧡💛🤍🪶

[@rev.f.e.mandrellsr.d.min.9496]

The audio in this recording is not very good for some reason.

[@ZaphodTHEBeeblebrox]

its not that its bad per se, Zone 6 is one of the busiest zones in the Cook County area (Chicago), unfortunately. only one or two others are just as, if not moreso busy. Zone 6 it also covers two districts, so understandably with all that was going on, both districts are trying to get a handle on the situation. add to the fact that there are officers in other districts that may have heard whats going on, are trying to alert ppl on Z6 and to their other districts... audio wise, chicago hasnt gone to the didgital side, if thats any answer to that. the scanners are old, broken down etc. needless to say it can be a bit of a cluster

[@terrellrogers7645]

@@ZaphodTHEBeeblebrox its definitely time to upgrade they're systems, this is another reason why they're dispatch gets hacked often also

[@ZaphodTHEBeeblebrox]

@@terrellrogers7645 yeah def. baofengs are handy little things, for all the wrong reasons

[@KD0LRG]

Sounds normal for that area. The radio systems they use is maximized for a large city.

[@harrietpearson816]

One of the clearest I've ever heard. It doesn't get better than this. Adrenaline can cloud the thinking. The worse words a dispatcher can hear to shock them and kick off the adrenaline is "Officer Down" and "Mayday, Mayday" until you hear those words behind the counsil you don't understand how your body will react. It takes years and practice. I'm not surprised he is a supervisor. The CPD dispatchers have a phenomenal role model in Mr. Keith.

[@scotthagapac]

Quite the dispatch love fest. Decent handling but can improve.

[@JR-lv9nb]

It's always male black offenders

[@alfredindy8058]

I would equally hate them if they were white or Asian.

[@WesternCowboy65]

It's an epidemic, the real threat to the nation.