Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

KPBS Midday Edition

Retired San Diego 911 Operator Writes About Handling Emergencies, Large And Small

Retired San Diego 911 Operator Writes About Handling Emergencies In Her Book
Retired San Diego 911 Operator Writes About Handling Emergencies, Large And Small
GUESTLucia Tulumello, Author, 9-1-1 What's Your Emergency?

Thanks to smart phones and Caller ID, when you pick up a phone these days, you usually know who's calling you.

But for 19 years, working with the San Diego Police Department, Lucia Tulumello never knew who was on the other end of the line or what they needed, or even if they'd be alive by the end of the call.

Tulumello worked as a 911 dispatcher, one of the usually unsung heroes of our public safety system.

Advertisement

She's compiled a number of her scariest, saddest, and strangest calls in a new book called "9-1-1 What Is Your Emergency?".

Today, on KPBS Midday Edition Tulumello shares some of the most memorable stories and learn what kept her answering emergency calls for nearly two decades.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.