Related Topics

Communications Center

VoIP Internet Phones & 9-1-1

Cell Phones
& 9-1-1

Sit in on LPD Dispatch!

LPD Main

LPD Communications Center:
Calling 9-1-1

Please Remember:
9-1-1 is:

• The Number to dial in a life-threatening emergency.
• The number to call to report a crime in-progress, including graffiti.
• The number to call for emergency medical help.
• The number to call to report a fire.

9-1-1 is NOT:

• The number to dial to ask for a phone number.
• The number to dial to report power outages.
• The number to call for weather and road information.
• The number to call for directions.

When Calling 9-1-1 ...

Know your location, this is especially true if calling from a cell phone. Use street signs, businesses, landmarks or even mail to help you locate yourself before calling. Remember, we can't help you if we can't find you.

Remain Calm, and answer all the dispatchers' questions. Be specific and patient, the information we are asking for is what is needed to provide the best possible response.

Do not hang up. Anytime you dial 9-1-1, even if in error, stay on the line until a dispatcher answers. Every 9-1-1 call must be evaluated, and in some cases the police may be dispatched to do so. A dispatcher will return all 911 hang-up calls to be sure there is no emergency. If there is no answer, a police agent is dispatched promptly to investigate.

If you get a recording. In public situations such as a traffic accident, a large number of people may call 9-1-1 at once backing up the system and you will get a recording. Please do not hang up; your information may be valuable. Your call will be answered in the order it was received.

Remember ...

Abusing 9-1-1 endangers lives. Please do not dial 9-1-1 unless you have an emergency. If in doubt, dial the dispatcher will let you know if future calls should be handled differently.

Accidental 9-1-1 cell phone calls. We receive many of accidental 9-1-1 calls from cell phones, partly because some cell phones have an SOS button that if accidentally pressed will automatically dial 9-1-1. Also on many cell phones pressing and holding the "9" key down will cause the phone to dial 9-1-1. Unless it is obvious this is an accidental dialing, the dispatcher will call back to verify whether or not there is or is not an emergency.

Deactivated cell phones can still be used to dial 9-1-1. Cell phones that do not have service should not be given to children to play with for this reason. Also, if you use an old phone to call 9-1-1, remember, we may not know where you are.

When teaching children to dial 9-1-1 also teach them that the phone is not a toy. As early as possible, teach children their address, phone number and how to dial 9-1-1, but do not actually dial the numbers unless there is an emergency.

Do not use 9-1-1 for information. The phone book has government pages (blue pages) and most numbers can be found there. Additionally, most of the police department non-emergency numbers can be found in the first few pages of the phone book. There are other resources dedicated to providing information and phone numbers via websites, 1411, or even 211.