When to Call 911

I have found that nearly everyone I speak with knows what 911 is and has probably used it at least once. We have all adjusted to calling 911 for any emergency we have. The problem is that too many people use 911 for issues that are not actual emergencies. Most of you know that your local police department has a non-emergency number, right? For some of you, the non-emergency number in your area is a generic one, 311. Others will simply use the non-emergency phone number of their local police department. You can find that information in your local phone book.

I have spoken to fellow citizens who had no idea there was any such thing as a "non-emergency" phone number for their local police department. Being as I am a retired police officer, I thought I would give you some examples of when to call 911 and when you should instead use the non-emergency phone number. This is important to know because in many cities when people call 911, they get a busy signal or are put on hold. That is not acceptable when someone's life is in danger. The fact is, if 911 were not abused as it is, you would never be put on hold. When I say "abused", I mean those people who call and hang up on 911, or prank call 911 from public phones. You can be charged with a crime for making a false 911 call. Remember that 911 is not the same as dialing 411 for information. Please explain to your children the importance of not playing on the phone. Many of my 911 calls were from young children who wanted to see if police would show up when they called. The examples I give you below, may also help us to clear up the 911 phone lines so that when an actual emergency is taking place, the person that needs help will get it in a timely manner.

Call the Non-Emergency Number if:

Your neighbor's dog is barking non-stop and you want to make a complaint. The neighbor is playing loud music that is truly disturbing your peace. The manager at McDonald's does not have the Chicken McNuggets you order and refuses to give you a refund. Ok, the last one is right out of the news regarding a woman who called 911 over a Chicken McNugget dispute. She had a right to call police to make a complaint, but calling 911 was a ridiculous decision on her part. These are all perfect examples of when to use the non-emergency number.

Examples of a Non-Emergency vs. Legitimate 911 call:

Call the non-emergency number if you go out to your car in the driveway and find that your vehicle was broken into and items were stolen. No suspect around means that it is no longer a crime in progress.

If you walk out to your car and see someone actually breaking into it right then or running off with your property, call 911 immediately. You would be best to not approach the suspect, but get as good a description as possible and advise the 911 operator.

The barking dog is a non-emergency. If a loose dog in the neighborhood has bitten someone, or attacked another animal and the dog is still loose, call 911. If you or another person needs immediate medical care, that is also a legitimate 911 call for an ambulance.

If you are out somewhere and notice your wallet is missing and can't be found anywhere, call the non-emergency number to make a police report.

If someone pushes you and takes your wallet/purse, call 911 immediately, it's a robbery.

If you notice someone in your neighborhood hanging around, and your gut tells you they may be up to no good, call the non-emergency number. An officer will respond and contact the person to see if they have a legitimate purpose for being there.

If you see someone peeking into your neighbors window or trying to break into a car, house or a business, call 911 immediately.

If you notice people arguing, but no one is throwing punches and it doesn't appear that they are about to throw punches, call the non-emergency line. The police department will send officer's out to make sure the situation does not become physical.

If you see people in a physical confrontation (fighting), call 911. If they have any weapons it is essential that you let the 911 operator know that information so they can pass it on to the officer's.

There are many examples I could give, but it would take a 10 page pamphlet to cover all of them. The basic rule is this:

If you feel that you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. If there are weapons involved, call 911.

The dispatchers must prioritize the calls that need an officer's response. Please be patient and understand that your call does matter, but it may not be the most important call at that moment. If we all use common sense and program the non-emergency number into our home phones and cell phones, we can keep the 911 phone lines open for actual emergencies. If it is you having a heart attack or your house being broken into while you're inside it, you won't want to be put on hold.

Source: Personal Experience as a Police Officer