OCing, Sheeple, and 911

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by Skuggi

Hmm just thinking would it be a good idea to have a 911 or Dispatch training memo made? Do you think it could help?

there is no way 911 would take a civilian's advice on how to run a 911. that is the principal idea of a 911 center, to remove the civilian approach there was in municipal stations.

[38SnubFan]

JMHO, but regarding the concept of the 911 dispatcher advising the caller that OC is legal - It is my understanding that dispatchers are not permitted to advise as to what is legal and what is not.

That said, however, the liability still resides on the officers who responded to the call, because IT IS THEIR JOB to know what's legal and what's not, and how to respond to such scenarios accordingly.

Just my $.02 FWIW,
38SnubFan

[ar15jules]

Originally Posted by Mabuz

Ok, thanks for the reply...it was just an idea that I thought may be an arguable stance.

The reason being is that I was told by a 911 operator that calling 911 for non-emergency issues was a finable offense.

Backstory: I called 911 one night due to some kids that threw fireworks into a dumpster ouside my townhome at 3:00 am. The dumpster caught on fire, and had 15 foot flames coming out the top, and I thought that it could cause close by vehicles or buildings to catch on fire, so I called 911 to report it not knowing the local Fire Dept's. number. The operator said they had a crew dispatched already, and that I should have looked up the number for the Fire Dept and not called 911 because it's not a life or death emergency. He also noted that I could be fined for any further non-emergency calls made.

It's not illegal to walk into a bank wearing a ski mask, money sack, and handwritten note either....
Jules

[SHEPHERD321]

Originally Posted by Statkowski

And from Nashville, Tennessee we have a 911 operator tell a distraught lady on the telephone, "I really just don't give a s**t what happens to you."

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8312600

Not true. And she sounds like a nut job.

[Brown-Bear]

Originally Posted by Mabuz

Ok, thanks for the reply...it was just an idea that I thought may be an arguable stance.

The reason being is that I was told by a 911 operator that calling 911 for non-emergency issues was a finable offense.

Backstory: I called 911 one night due to some kids that threw fireworks into a dumpster ouside my townhome at 3:00 am. The dumpster caught on fire, and had 15 foot flames coming out the top, and I thought that it could cause close by vehicles or buildings to catch on fire, so I called 911 to report it not knowing the local Fire Dept's. number. The operator said they had a crew dispatched already, and that I should have looked up the number for the Fire Dept and not called 911 because it's not a life or death emergency. He also noted that I could be fined for any further non-emergency calls made.

Get out. He said that to you? Thats just amazing, A fire nesxt to abuliding is not an emergency? WTF ever. This is how people die, dispatchers are not supposed to be making those kind of calls, if the caller in good faith believes there is an emergency then they should call 911, thats what its there for, No?

Dave