**Content warning: Contains description of sexual assault and a distressing audio recording some may find upsetting.**
A 911 operator has opened up about her most memorable call which proves just 'how important 911 operators are to fighting crime'. Listen to the call below.
Phoenix Police Communications Operator Deb Hale has revealed a 'harrowing' call she received from a woman - 'a story of a caller's worst nightmare'.
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Not initially understanding why the woman was calling 911, Hale later realised the immediate danger the caller was in and took action.
In a video shared to YouTube by Phoenix Police, Hale explains she got a call from a lady who gave her a 'vague location' of where she was and said she 'wasn't sure' why she was calling.
Despite initially being 'a little irritated' by the caller's lack of clarity - working overtime not helping either - Hale 'kept her calm' and carried on trying to gain some insight on the situation.
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When the caller said she couldn't say why she was calling 'right now,' that's when it 'clicked' for Hale and the operator realised there was potentially 'a reason' why the caller couldn't tell her anything specific.
Hale then asked the caller a series of questions which the woman could respond to with one word answers, such as, 'Are you in danger?'
When the operator asked the caller if she'd been kidnapped, the caller responded: "I don't know."
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Hale - who notes the woman called 911 four times prior to her call but was disconnected each time because of her lack of explanation for calling - says: "It turns out she was on a date with someone and they had given her something to drink and she woke up and the suspect was sexually assaulting her.
"And now they were in a vehicle driving along a road. She finally convinced him to let her use the phone and she called 911."
Telling the caller to 'pretend like [she's] talking to [her] friend, Hale then set about trying to help her.
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She identified the vehicle as a black truck, the suspect as having 'some type of weapon'.
The call lasted 20 minutes, the suspect growing suspicious on several occasions about who the woman was talking to, but thankfully Hale was able to send an officer out who managed to locate the vehicle just before it turned off its lights and travelled into a more rural area.
The officer pulled the vehicle over and the suspect was taken into custody, the caller bursting into tears and just managed to say to Hale: "Thank you so much."
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Hale reflected: "It kind of taught me a lesson that every minute that we are working in this job is important. Every call is important. This call specifically I feel like I made a huge difference in her life. Had I not listened to her that might have been her last chance to call 911 that night."
The caption reads: "This video shows the importance of 911 operators as they truly are the first of the first responders.
"Every call counts."
Topics: Mental Health, Health, US News, Police, True crime, Crime