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View all episodesAugust 10, 2022
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“I have heard people murdered. I have heard people commit suicide. I have heard people walk into a room to find their children dead.”
These are just some of the daily horrors that the Informer has to deal with, day in, day out. A thankless task, listening to the very worst of humanity, on 24-hour rotations, fielding up to 300 calls per shift.
Having worked as a 911 operator and dispatcher for the past four years. Thos Informer knows all too well the secret reality of answering your 911 calls.
He describes how the lack of modern technology means people have to be hung up on, even if they are screaming for help. Or how, they are unable to tell callers what to do, for fear of being sued - often with deadly consequences.
All the while, they are not considered front-line workers, and with that, none of the protections or benefits. “We are essentially people at a front desk, according to the government - the only difference is, we listen to people die.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 8002738255 or visit
Informer is a series where we hear the anonymised confessions and insights of people on the inside of different industries, institutions and events.
Watch more from this series:
Drugs, Sex and Gangs Inside Rikers Island Prison
What the Gambling Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know
I Was Sold At A Slave Market
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