CALLING 9-1-1

Reasons for Dialing 9-1-1

• When a crime is in progress.

• When you or someone else is in danger.

• When you need an ambulance.

• When you need a fire truck.

• When you are in an accident.

Do not call 9-1-1

• When there is s power outage.

• If you want to find out if someone has been arrested or if they are in jail.

• When you want to know what time it is. 

• For general information or a pone number.

• When you are curious why there is a police officer or ambulance at your neighbor's house or in your neighborhood.

Please remember:

For those who are hard of hearing and/or speech impaired can call 9-1-1 using TDD.

If 9-1-1 is dialed by accident, stay on the line and advise the operator that the number has been dialed by mistake. Officers are dispatched to all 9-1-1- calls until the operator can verify that there is not an emergency. 

When teaching children to dial 9-1-1, do not refer to the number as 9-11 (nine eleven). There is no 11 (eleven) button on the dialing pad and this can cause them confusion.

IF possible, have a pen and paper ready when you dial 9-1-1. Your complaint might be one that must be referred to another department or agency. 

When you call 9-1-1

Allow the operator to ask the necessary questions. 9-1-1 operators are trained to ask particular questions according to the nature of the incoming call. These questions will not delay the emergency personnel from being sent to your location. While the operator is asking the caller questions, there is another dispatcher in the same room sending the appropriate emergency response when the incoming call is an emergency call. 

When you are calling 9-1-1 for crime or incident in-progress, if at all possible stay on the line with the operator, unless doing so will place you in danger. Do not say "send the police" and hang up. Staying on the line and answering questions as the crime/incident progresses will allow the operator to give the responding emergency personnel updated information as they are en-route to the location.

Be prepared to describe the persons involved in any incident. This includes their race, sex, age, height and weight, hair color, clothing description, and if they had a hat, glasses or facial hair. Be prepared to describe any vehicles involved in the incident. This includes the color, year, make, model and typed of vehicle (sedan, pickup, SUV, van, tanker truck, flatbed, etc.) and which direction the vehicle is going.

All 9-1-1 calls are prioritized and the most serious are dispatched first. Calls are not dispatched on a first-come/first-serve basis. 

Cellular Phone Users and 9-1-1

Cellular phone users should read your cell phone manual and learn how to lock your cell phone keypad. Locking the keypad will prevent the numbers on your cell phone from being depressed when in your pocket or purse. Most cell phones will dial 9-1-1 when any button on the keypad becomes depressed and held. Locking the keypad can prevent many unnecessary false calls being made to 9-1-1.

When calling 9-1-1 from a cell phone, be prepared to give the operator your location. Enhanced 9-1-1 is currently not capable of giving the location you are calling from and the caller will have to provide this information. Visible landmarks, nearby businesses, and highway/interstate mile markers can be good tools for pinpointing your locations. 

The 6 W's To Remember When Calling 911

WHERE is this occurring? At your location or somewhere else?

WHAT is happening?

WHEN - is it occurring now?

WHO is involved?

WHY is this happening?

WEAPONS  - are there any involved and what kind?

Information about your local 9-1-1 Center:

Central Dispatch is the Primary PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) for all of Evansville and Vanderburgh County. We take 9-1-1 calls from regular telephone (wire line) customers and from cellular phone users in the area.

We Dispatch the Evansville Police Department and Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office. The Evansville Fire Department and five suburban fire departments in Vanderburgh County. Including Scott Township, McCutchanville, Knight Township, Perry Township and German Township. 

We also occasionally handle radio traffic with various other City, County, State and Federal agencies. 

If you need emergency medical assistance, your 9-1-1 call will be connected to an AMR (American Medical Response) dispatcher and they will dispatch the ambulance. AMR holds the ambulance contract for Evansville and Vanderburgh county with the exception of Scott Township.

Remember, in an emergency cal 9-1-1.

Special Thanks to Central Dispatch Shift Supervisor -  Kevin Bayer and  Dispatcher  -  Lorie Leslie who provided the information for this page.