• Tell the operator what the emergency is
• Wait for further instructions from the operator
• Don't hang up until the operator tells you to

What is an Emergency?

• Any serious medical problem (chest pain, seizure, bleeding)
• Any type of fire (business, car, building)
• Any life-threatening situations (fights, people with weapons, etc.)

What information will the operator need?

• The location where assistance is needed
• Your name and phone number
• The nature of the emergency
• Descriptions of suspects, or additional information

1. Where? - Where is this occurring?
2. What? - What is happening?
3. When? - Is this happening now?
4. Who? - Who is the victim, suspect, etc.?
5. Why? - Do you know why this is happening? i.e. depression?
6. Weapons? - Are there any weapons involved

DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION

PEOPLE

• Sex
• Race
• Height
• Weight
• Age
• Clothing
• Any distinguishing features (glasses, facial hair, scars)

VEHICLES

• Color
• Make
• Model
• Body Style (2 door, station wagon, etc.)
• License number

Which way the suspect did the suspect leave?
Were they running, or in a vehicle?
Were they going north, south, east, or west?

Why does the operator ask questions that they already have?
Regardless of the information displayed on the screen the 9-1-1 operator has to confirm that it has not changed.
When you are reporting an emergency try to remain calm; as hard as that may be, so that the dispatcher is able to fully understand what the problem is. A digital recording system allows immediate playback of all phone and radio transmissions coming into the communications center, in case the caller is not calm.
allowing call takers to quickly replay messages whenever necessary.
In addition, a Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) is used to assist hearing-impaired callers is also available.

What is considered suspicious activity?
Vehicles in neighborhood cruising slowly and you think twice about it,
people walking your neighborhood and you know they do not live there,
alarms, screams, horn blowing, solicitors. Call your local police, sheriff, fire or ambulance service for non-emergency situations.


Helpful Hints:

• Always listen to the Dispatcher.
• The questions they ask are for the safety of you, the public and the officers.
• Just because they are questioning you, does not mean help is not on the way.
• Information is entered into a computer & dispatched to the proper units.
• Remain on the line until told to hang up. The operator may need more information or to give you further instructions.
• Be familiar with your area. We can't help if you don't know where you are.
• NEVER intervene in a crime in progress.

What to do when you need help, but it's not an emergency:

• Dial your local police, sheriff, fire or ambulance non emergency number.
• Tell the dispatcher the problem.
• The dispatcher will ask you questions and tell you when to hang up.

What are non-emergency calls?

• Property damage accidents ("Fender Benders")
• Break-in to a vehicle (when suspect is gone)
• Theft of property (when suspect is gone)
• Vandalism (when suspect is gone)
• Panhandlers
• Intoxicated persons who are not disorderly
• Cars blocking the street or alleys

Some DON'TS for 9-1-1:

• Never call 9-1-1 and just hang up .
  Most policies on "hang up" calls is to call back and attempt to verify if there is an emergency. If we cannot verify to our satisfaction that everything is all right, most departments send police officers to the indicated address.
  This is to ensure that a person who is incapacitated can receive help without having to talk on the phone. Unfortunately, many "hang up" calls are false, and we have wasted police manpower and resources to respond to them.
  False calls cost you money, and tie up police officers who are needed on other calls.