 FAQsGeneral FAQs
Q: To set the record straight, how do you pronounce Don and Betty's last name?
A: Usually Don would do something to illustrate: first off, he'd hold up a key and then ask you what it is. The proper answer would be "my house key". Don and Betty's last name is pronounced Mah-how-skie. He jokingly says "It's because I'm Polish."
Q: On the night Tammy was killed, how many times did Lynn and her friend call 9-1-1?
A: Lynn started dialing at 11:24:50pm, dialed again at 11:25:55 and finally reached an operator at 11:26:23. Brandy dialed her first call at 11:25:25 and less than 25 seconds later, her second call was answered.
Q: I read that Lynn reached a busy signal, but a TV news story said she was put on hold. Which was it?
A: Based on the number of operators on duty, when the allowable volume of callers to 9-1-1 has been exceeded, the caller will hear a recorded message telling them to stay on the line and that their call will be answered as soon as an operator is available. With only one of the two operators on duty that night and eight calls ahead of Lynn's, it was not likely she'd get through immediately. Lynn, during many of her interviews, has described a "busy signal" and a "hold button" but the reality is she heard the recorded message the first two times she called 9-1-1.
Q: Why hasn't Brandy, the other witness, been seen on the news or on your website?
A: We don't know. She hasn't contacted any of us since Tammy's death.
Q: I've heard that Tammy would have died even if 9-1-1 had responded sooner. Is that true?
A: The deputy coroner stated in his report that it is not likely Tammy would have lived if the emergency personnel had arrived sooner. However, Lynn said Tammy was still breathing when they started dialing 9-1-1. The world is filled with stories of people being fately shot yet still running and moving around for many minutes. In reality, we'll never know now.
Q: It was stated that it was 21 ro 22 minutes after the call to 9-1-1 before the police entered Tammy's house. Why?
A: Although we have not been given an acceptable explanation as to why it took such a rediculously huge amount of time, we can offer you this: It was standard policy for the RCMP to secure the location, following an armed assault, before entering the home. Lynn and Brandy were so freaked out that they didn't know for sure if Learn had exited the house. Police dogs and officers searched the entire area before deciding it was safe to send people inside. Unfortunately, this took time. Whether or not there was additional time added because the rookies, who were allegedly on duty that night, were waiting for senior officers to arrive, can not be confirmed, but would help to explain the enormous amount of time prior to entering. However, it does not appear that the ambulance was called until at least 20 minutes after the initial call was received. (ie. distance away from firehall - about one minute)
Q: Is it true that Lynn still lives in the house where Tammy was killed?
A: Yes. Not everyone can afford to move when they want to. The police did a very good job of cleaning up after the murder, but the one thing they couldn't erase was the memory of it. We know that living there, for Lynn, hasn't been easy.
Q: I'm sure that Tammy's parents and Lynn and just out to get famous, with all the publicity and all.
A: LMAO! If you actually knew the people, you'd laught too..and you'd also know better than even think such stupid things. The Michalsky's are a private family that would like to stay private. Unfortunately, we live in a world where you sometimes have to do things you'd rather not in order to get a point across. The news interviews have only been encouraged to help promote knowledge of what we're doing with 9-1-1. Betty hates the whole "press" thing and Don would like nothing more than to never see a video camera ever again.
Q: Where do I go to tell my story about a bad 9-1-1 experience?
A: We always want to hear your stories but the reality is that Bill Bennett, East Kootenay MLA, is the person you need to talk to. He will gladly listen to what you have to say. Bill's contact info is at the bottom of the home page.
Q: Is complaining and telling bad stories really going to do any good at all?
A: Yes, if enough people come forward and do it.
Q: Isn't it true that moving the call center back to Cranbrook would cost tax payers a huge chunk of money?
A: Yes, it likely will. What is one life worth?
Q: I've heard from a friend that the real reason behind Don's quest is to become famous. Is that true?
A: We've heard from a few "immature" individuals who believe that Don's quest is selfish in nature. We can assure you that he has no desire to become famous - but will get into the spotlight and stay there if it means that no one else will have to go through what he and Betty have had to experience with Tammy's death. So far, only a few of the young and childless have made that comment. Try being a parent and losing a child and see if your perspective changes.
Q: I heard from a friend that some people who have complained about 9-1-1 don't want to be involved with your project. How true is that?
A: Although the majority of people who desire changes within the 9-1-1 system support Don, it seems some will not get involved because of the original premise behind the creation of the site: a tribute to Don's daughter, Tammy. We think the point they miss is that remembering Tammy and what happened to her is the fuel behind Don's fight - and if pictures and information about her on this website is what bothers them, then there must be other deeper reasons as to why they're not supporting his cause.
Q: Is it true that if I tell my horror story, complain or talk about wanting our dispatch back or say anything negative about our current 9-1-1 service - which is ran by the RCMP - that I could possibly get hurt by them?
A: Don't be rediculous! This is not a communist country where the police have secret "lynch mobs" who, in the dead of night, hunt down people and make them disappear. Your voice is important and of all the people who have complained and told their stories so far, every one of them is still here and doing just fine. In fact, one of the friends of Tammy911.com recently sued the 9-1-1 call center in Kelowna over something horrible that happened to her in Vernon back in 2004.
Q: Now that the hand written petitions have been taken to Victoria, does that mean you guys are finished?
A: Absolutely not! We have not stopped distributing or collection the petitions. Problems still exist and complaints are still coming in. Until our 9-1-1 system functions at an acceptable level we will not be stopping our quest. As much as we want the dispatch returned to Cranbrook, we will settle for it working efficiently in Kelowna. However, the proof continues to pile up against it ever working at an acceptable level in Kelowna.
Q: With Learn's murder trial, some people have said that all you guys tried to influence the jury. Is that true?
A: No. Neither the Michalsky's, Lynn Neelin or this website have purposely tried to influence anyone's thinking prior or during the trial. However, Lynn placed a "remember Tammy" card on a bulletin board outside the courtroom when she was finished her testimony and it was percieved as being placed there to influence the jury. We assure you it was an innocent mistake. Lynn acted without our knowledge and simply didn't know that it was the wrong thing to do. This website reflects what's already been said so it's hard to influence anyone when news publications and common knowledge has already stated it. We're also entitled to publish our opinions and if you don't like them , then we're sure you can find other websites to haunt. Don was accused of trying to influence the jury when he sighed as an emotional reaction to some of the statements made during the trial. The reality is people are going to believe whatever they want to in order to satisfy their bias and overwhelming ignorance. Cowardly, anonymous emails sent to us since the trial have proven that. | 
