Angel Organizations of the Month
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation
Our Mission Statement: To promote and support public safety through uniform training, standardized protocols, defined measurable outcomes, and technological advances in the 9-1-1 system.
Denise Amber Lee |
Background: Currently, many states have no kind of standards set for the training of 9-1-1 dispatchers. Although Florida is making an effort (a bill for 9-1-1 reform was recently passed in Denise's name), it is still considered a voluntary measure to participate in the training standards. We would like to see proper training become mandatory, not voluntary. We'd like to learn from the mistakes made, move forward and fix the inadequacies. 9-1-1 is here to save lives, and when it doesn't because of confusion and procedural breakdowns, that is unacceptable. We need to restore confidence in the 9-1-1 system. That is the most important thing. 9-1-1 operators and dispatchers should be praised for doing their job correctly, not everyone can handle the high stress conditions of the job.
A Mom and Her Sons |
WHY?: In January 2008, Denise Lee was kidnapped in broad daylight, and struggled for her life for several hours. In that time, 4 9-1-1 calls were placed, including one from Denise herself, and one from a courageous bystander, Jane Kowalski, who provided an exact location of Denise to authorities while she was on the phone for several minutes. Because those 9-1-1 calls were not all properly handled, it was possible for Denise's rapist and murderer to commit his crimes. She left behind two small boys, a husband, and a loving family.
First Anniversary Event |
While obviously, the 9-1-1 call center did not intend for this to happen, or actually "pull the trigger", evidence shows that there were available resources to save her life, and they were not used. Denise's story is not the only one of its kind, a few months later Brittany Zimmermann, the poor college student in Wisconsin who called 9-1-1 with her cell phone, and when a dispatcher failed to issue a return call, became another unfortunate murder victim. These are merely examples of a splintered system without any national regulations, which we strive to remedy.
First Ever Denise Amber Lee Award |
The Reason: There are two very good reasons behind why the Foundation exists. First, the loss of a very loving and innocent mother of two -
click here to read her husband's stories from a better time.
The second reason, is how that tragedy brought to light just how much the 9-1-1 system needs us. Click here to read a little bit of what we found.
The foundation cannot exist without the help of the public. Please consider sponsoring or donating to the foundation.
Please send any mail correspondence to:
PO Box 781
Englewood, Florida 34295-0781
Angels in Blue 5K Run
For more information, please visit the foundation's website at: www.deniseamberlee.org.
To view all Angel Organizations of the Month, please click here.
