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PSC releases report on deadly February standoff

Errors made in communication
Posted at 11:06 PM, Jul 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-30 00:08:51-04

The Nebraska Public Service Commission is out with an in-depth report on the deadly standoff in rural Northwest Omaha in February that left two brothers dead.  It found errors in the way 911 dispatch handled the calls for help. 

The 30-page report detailed a timeline of calls and callbacks to shooting victim John Edwards cell phone, after he had been shot..   Tim Schram of the Public Service Commission told KMTV, " The findings are that there needs to be better understanding collaboratively of the system configuration. " More specifically, the PSC found the original 911 call taker did not verify the caller's name, location or call back number before transferring it to fire and rescue. As a result, the dispatchers sent to police to a cell phone tower area near 150th and Blondo.  

It took nearly forty minutes to eventually pinpoint the correct location on 140th near Blondo.  During the hostage situation and standoff, Kenneth Clark killed brothers John and Jason Edwards, who had gone there to help their sister move out of the house and leave Clark.  He released her.  Clark killed himself that night as the standoff dragged on for eleven hours. 

The report goes on to say the Public Service Commission should undertake comprehensive wireless location accuracy testing at all of its emergency answering points across the state.