That's exactly how I feel. Exactly.
Because there were two small boys and a father holding them hostage, they would have been as careful as possible to try to get them out of there without setting JP off. They wouldn't have beat the door down immediately upon arriving. They almost never do that. They would have no way of knowing that JP was about to murder them. My guess is they would have treated it like a hostage situation.
When the house blew up they'd know, but by then it would have been too late.
Yes - it would more than likely have been treated like a hostage situation, and a negotiator (not necessarily a SWAT negotiator, but someone skilled @ talking to someone on the verge) may have been able to buy more time for little Charlie and Braden.
He would have lit the match or lighter. Just jumping off your post, but I don't think it makes a bit of difference whether the police had arrived sooner or not. Josh had a plan, and it was going to happen. It wasn't like he was running around with the gas after the boys were dropped off. He was all set. I think it's truly a miracle not more people were killed.
We'll never know, though, because no one was given the opportunity to try to talk JP out of his murderous plans.
I agree. We will never know though because of the negligent 911 operator, which gained NO sympathy from me whatsoever on the Dateline show. I really couldn't believe he was not so ashamed of himself and went on national television.
I still can't believe he could not comprehend it was a life threatening situation when the SW clearing says "this is an emergency" and "I'm afraid for their lives".
What part of those two those two statements did he not understand? Really.
He stated in the Dateline interview that he knew who "Josh Powell" was but it didn't resonate with him that it was "that Josh Powell".
She stated plainly in the call that it is "Josh Powell, it's a high profile case".
How did her saying high profile case not jog his memory.
He didn't seem remorseful at all in the interview and I thought he was somewhat trying to place the blame on the SW.
I agree about the GPS. I don't think she would have mentioned it if she didn't think she had the service. He didn't even hestiate to say "no" when she asked. He was probably just too darn lazy to look.
That whole interview with him ticked me off. Because of him, we will never know if it would have mattered.
:goodpost: I agree 100%. What part of "This is an emergency" and "I'm afraid for their lives" did he not understand? Did he not take her seriously because she wasn't hysterical and screaming? Kudos to her for keeping her head in an emergency situation!
I must say that I don't agree with the idea that the murders of these two precious little boys would have still happened if LE had arrived before JP set the house on fire, or that JP would have still carried out his evil plans if visitation would have taken place elsewhere or had been revoked altogether.
I don't agree that nothing could have been done to prevent JP from carrying out his murderous plans. IMO, this is an apathetic, helpless response that does nothing to enlighten us or to inform us so that future tragedies can be prevented.
I don't agree that the 911 operator's callous and negligent attitude played no active role in the tragic events of February 5th.
If first responders had arrived before JP set the house on fire, it's entirely possible that someone may have been able to talk JP down off the ledge. As long as people are alive, there is always the opportunity to change course.
As it is, the 911 operator chose to trivialize a real time life-threatening emergency. IMO, if he isn't fired, he needs to resign, and seek work where his decisions do not affect the lives and safety of others.
As for me, I refuse to adopt the attitude that nothing could have been done to circumvent the murders of Charlie and Braden. Plenty could have been done, not the least of which was revoking visitation pending the psychosexual evaluation. As far as I can see, there were a multitude of chances where someone could have made the right decision.
The safety of little Charlie and Braden has been like a cascade of dominoes these past 2+ years. Chuck and Judy Cox stepped up and did what it took to keep their grandchildren safe. All that was needed was one person in a position of authority to step up and stop the cascade.
I refuse to seek comfort in the false notion that nothing could have been done. Plenty could have been done.