When and how to report to the police in the United States
Understanding when and how to report an alarm is very important. Understand what happens when calling 911 or the local police station. Understand your rights when talking to the police.
How to contact the police?
Call or send a text message to 911 for emergency assistance.
911 provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if you don't have a phone plan or don't have enough talk time, you can still call 911. If there is no service or signal, you will not be able to call 911.
Call 311 for non emergency assistance.
311 can provide you with contact information for the local police station. Most police stations are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call, send an email, or visit the police station for assistance.
Tip: If your English is not fluent, you can request a translation.
When should I call 911?
When you need emergency assistance from the police, fire department, or ambulance, please call 911. An emergency situation refers to a situation where a person's life or property is in direct danger. Emergency situations include:
·Fire
·Medical emergency situations, such as someone experiencing difficulty breathing, chest pain, or loss of consciousness
·Psychological health crisis, such as thoughts that harm oneself or others
Requesting a police officer who has received training in dealing with mental health crises
·Serious crimes such as shooting, robbery, domestic violence, or sexual assault
·Traffic accidents involving injuries to personnel
Tip: If you accidentally call 911, please do not hang up the phone. Continue the call and inform the police officer that you have dialed the wrong number.
When should I call the local police station?
You should seek help from the local police station in non emergency situations. This includes:
·Crimes that have already occurred
·A traffic accident without serious injuries
·Suspicious activity
·Personal property loss, such as wallets
·Obtain criminal records
·Request a health check to determine if someone is safe and sound
·Regarding safety issues
If it is not an urgent issue, please do not call the police. Try to solve the problem yourself or find a family member, friend, or neighbor to help. For example, if your neighbor's party is too noisy, you can consider knocking on their door and asking them to lower the volume.
Be cautious when reporting to the police. In some cases, involving the police may pose a danger to certain groups of people. Reporting to the police for suspicious behavior or dealing with mental health crises may increase the risk of violence. Reporting to the police may also put some undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation. Consider utilizing other resources to assist you. If calling 911 can save lives, you should call it.
What will happen after I call the police?
When you dial 911
An operator will pick up the phone, ask you questions, and try their best to help you. They will ask:
·Your name
·Your phone number
·Details of emergency situations
O Location
What happened
Your needs
If you want to remain anonymous, you do not need to provide your name, phone number, or address. You don't have to answer any questions you don't want to answer.
If necessary, the operator will dispatch police cars, fire trucks, or ambulances. The operator will tell you what to do before rescue arrives. They can provide guidance in emergency treatment or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
