March 29, 2001: Wacky 911 Calls - Leland Gregory

Leland Gregory III brings humor to the airwaves with his compilation of absurd and outrageous 911 emergency calls. The former Saturday Night Live writer and author of multiple bestselling books shares stories from his audio CD and book "What's the Number for 9-1-1." As a chronicler of stupid America, Gregory reveals how criminals call 911 to get police to help them escape buildings they've broken into. The episode provides comic relief while honoring the serious work of 911 dispatchers whom Gregory calls some of the most stressed professionals in America. Art relates his own experience as a 911 dispatcher in Monterey County, describing the overwhelming responsibility of simultaneously tracking 20-25 police cars while handling emergency calls and fire dispatches. The conversation explores how fear and panic lead people to make absurdly illogical calls to emergency services. Gregory's background in political consulting and entertainment writing brings perspective to human foolishness, offering listeners a much-needed break from the program's typically serious paranormal and crisis-oriented content.