Guide for 9-1-1 Operators About Guns

When Margaret Poplawski called 9-1-1 Saturday morning to report a domestic dispute with her 22 year old son Richard Polawski at her home, she told the operator that there were guns in the house but said they were legal. The information about the guns in the house was not passed along to the responding officers. Shortly after Mrs. Poplawski admitted officers to her home, her son opened fire with an AK-47 killing Officers Paul Sciullo, Stephen Mayhle and Eric Kelly. According to police affidavits, Mrs. Poplawski screamed at her son and ran and hid in the basement. Poplaski was armed with the AK-47, a long-range rifle and handguns.
When it was learned that the information about the weapons was not relayed to the officers, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl demanded changes.
Now all 9-1-1 operators have a a guide at their desk to serve as a reminder to the training they received as to what procedures to follow. The guide has mandatory steps to follow in asking callers about weapons at the location. County Emergency Services Chief Robert Full says the guide is meant to reinforce the training that the operators receive.