Law Dispatcher

If you come across a vehicle that seems out of place, there is a way of dealing with it.  You local law enforcement agency can help.  They will go out and investigate it if you will supply them with some information first.  They will want to know what kind of vehicle it is, the color, make, model, tag number if known, VIN number if no tag is available, how long it’s been there, anyone seen in or around the vehicle and why you think it’s suspicious.  Simple questions.  If you don’t know the tag or VIN, and you feel it’s not safe to go look at it, then stay away.

These types of calls are generally non-emergency types of calls, therefore, use your non-emergency number to the local law enforcement office.  If life or property is in danger, then call 911.

September 11th, 2001 rearranged the way Americans view other people.  We no longer board an aircraft with an middle eastern person on board and think nothing of it.  This mentality has carried over into our everyday lives.  People with suspicious looks and/or actions are called into question everyday and given what we’ve experienced in our past, it’s not without good reason.  Our lives have changed forever because of the actions of a few radicals.

If you see someone you think may be wanted or they are acting in a stange manor, call your local law enforcement agency.  Be prepared to describe the subject in detail and tell the calltaker exactly what the subject is doing.  The calltaker will also ask for the following information:  any weapons involved and if so what, has the subject left the area and if so in what direction and by what mode, is there anyone drinking or doing drugs.  If you think the subject has a warrant for their arrest, can you advise the name of the subject along with their date of birth and their race.  Also if you know what the warrant is for, give that information also.

It is not necessary for you to call in an adult who is walking down the street with a child of a different race or any other situation where there is no need for alarm.  Such unnecessary harassment is not well tolerated among LEO’s and could land you in hot water.

Use your commonsense and good judgement.  If it looks suspicious…call.  If it may be a life or death emergency, use 911…otherwise, know the non-emergency phone number to the local law enforcement office.

Did you ever see something that left you with the feeling that it just wasn’t right but you really couldn’t categorize it into any specific crime?  As a dispatcher, we often take calls from people who have seen something and have a hunch that something just isn’t right.  No big deal.  Local law enforcement has a way of dealing with such incidents.  The calltaker should ask you when you saw this situation and what exactly did you see.  They should record it on their computer and send it to dispatch.  A LEO should then investigate the incident and deal with it accordingly.  It is always helpful if you meet with the officer responding, that way, you can express to them what may not be obvious and why you think it’s suspicious.

Again, if it’s not a life or death emergency, don’t call 911.

In this day of “me-ism”, the lack of common courstey in driving is very apparent.  Such actions enrage other drivers and cause situations that can be deadly.  911 centers all over the country are bombarded with reckless driver calls.  Although it is virtually impossible for law enforcement to react to all these calls, there is a concerted effort made to at least let the officers in that particualar area know about it.

If you think that a driver who is driving recklessly could cause potential harm to another person, perhaps it is helpful if you call the local law enforcement center and let them know.  They will need the following information:  the location where this is occuring, the type of vehicle to include the make, model and color, the tag number of the vehicle, the direction in which the vehicle is travelling with updates given to the calltaker on a regular basis.  If you can obtain a brief description of the driver, that is helpful also.    The calltaker will want to know if you are going to continue to follow and if so, what kind of vehicle are you driving (to include make, model, color and tag).  The calltaker should be able to inform you if an officer is enroute to the situation.  There are times when no officers are available and it is advised that the caller pull over and wait for an officer to respond to them.  Some counties have hotlines available to call if you know the tag number of the offending vehicle.  It is a recording that you can leave the tag number on and they in turn will send the registered owner a letter stating that their vehicle has been spotted driving recklessly.  Small consolation to the driver who was nearly killed by the reckless one, but still better than nothing at all.  If a LEO does respond to the situation and he spots the reckless driver and has them pull over, you as the caller should also pull over behind the LEO.  Stay about 100 yards to officers rear and in your vehicle.  DO NOT get out of your vehicle.  The calltaker should advise the dispatcher that you have pulled over and will talk to the officer.

Not all reckless drivers are drunk or doing drugs.  Some have serious medical conditions that come to fruition while the driver is driving.  There is the occasional driver that is just not paying close attention to their driving or is distracted by other people or things.  It is in your best interest to be an alert driver and react to others in a cautious and courteous manner.

Please note:  You are required to follow all traffic laws despite what other drivers are doing.  If a reckless driver speeds through a red light and you are trying to follow them, you must obey the law and stop.  THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Use your common sense when it comes to dealing with this kind of sitaution.  If the driver is so reckless that they are bound to cause injury or death with their carelessness, then determine for yourself if it is indeed worth tying up a 911 line for.  If you’re unsure, ask the 911 operator.  They are willing to let you know if you should call another number.

Nothing is more annoying or ghastly to the eyesight than an abandoned vehicle sitting around. If you like your neighborhood cleaned up and looking nice, you will probably be one of the first to react to such a nuisance. There is a quick and easy way to take care of that. Call your non-emergency number to your local law enforcement office and report it. Depending on where the vehicle is parked and the local ordinances, it may be as simple as you making a call to a tow company to come tow it away. The calltaker should be able to instruct you in how to proceed.   If the situation calls for law enforcement involvement, have the following information available when you call: the address of the vehicle, anyone seen in or around the vehicle, the vehicle description to include the make, model and color. The tag number will also be helpful. If there is no tag on the vehicle and it is safe to do so, try to get the VIN number off of it. It is also helpful if you would make yourself available to the responding officer to direct them to the vehicle.

It’s a simple process and doesn’t require much effort. It is also a non-emergency situation unless there is a threat to life or property. Therefore, please do not call 911 for this type of call.