Exemplary Teamwork Earns Service Awards

Exemplary Teamwork Earns

Service Awards

Mobile, AL - Dating back to just prior to the Christmas holiday through mid-January, MFRD received close to two-dozen false/prank calls to the South Bay Apartments on Washington Avenue, prompting Communications personnel to dispatch emergency responders. For weeks, the Mobile Fire-Rescue and Mobile Police departments were tormented by a 911 prank caller, reporting major emergencies such as apartment fires, mass shootings, and more. All calls were received from an untraceable number.

Crews and officers would arrive on scene and investigate, only to discover that there were no emergencies in the area, confirming that the call was false. The trend of false/prank 911 calls continued daily, thus forcing MFRD to launch an investigation in efforts to track down and apprehend the culprit(s). District Chief Brian Smith was the catalyst for starting the investigation, making calls, gathering information, and involving MPD’s Cyber Intelligence Division.

Chief Smith, subsequently, reached out to MFRD’s Communications Division for help in compiling data on the false calls. Communications Officer Sarah Malone volunteered time to gather data, accessing call records and documentation, and other details pertaining to all false calls received from the untraceable number and South Bay Apartments. Once the details were assembled, Fire Investigators Juanita Odom (Captain) and James Hunter received details for review and research. In less than 24 hours, Investigators were able to determine a suspect.

MFRD Communications Officers and Fire Investigators worked together in a thorough investigation and were able to apprehend a suspect. On January 17, 2019, twenty-six year-old David Kass (01/05/1993) was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Terroristic Threats and 7 misdemeanor rendering false call charges.

For their excellent teamwork and commitment to improving the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department, Fire Chief Mark Sealy proudly presents the Service Recognition Award to District Chief Brian Smith, Fire Service Captain Juanita Odom, Fire Service Driver James Hunter, and Communications Officer Sarah Malone.