Dispatch Center
Dispatchers are the gateway to the criminal justice field. We are the first persons contacted in the event of an emergency. Many times we are multitasking and prioritizing calls. We would like for everyone to know how they can help our dispatch center help them in the event of an emergency.
WHEN CALLING 9-1-1
9-1-1 is a service meant for emergencies. It should be reserved for reporting situation where there is imminent danger, crimes in progress and other incidents deemed as emergencies such as traffic accidents, road hazards and fires.
Examples of some reasons to call 9-1-1
• someone is injured and needs help
• someone is hurting someone else or being hurt
• someone is trying to break into your house
• there is a fire or smoke
Examples of reasons NOT to call 9-1-1 (call the police NON emergency line or appropriate agency)
• your dog ran away
• your power went out
• you locked your keys in your vehicle
• when you need information (call 4-1-1)
What Happens When 9-1-1 is Called
• A central computer identifies the phone number and address the call is coming from, and sends it to the emergency agency serving the address
• The 911 operator answers and asks questions- including verification of the location- to determine needs and prioritize the call, then sends the emergency service
• Calls from cell phones are routed to CECOMS, the Cuyahoga County Emergency Communication System which connects callers to appropriate agencies.
(When using a CELL PHONE the address is not always identified by the computer. Be prepared to give the location of the EMERGENCY)
Reporting Emergencies to Police
Callers should remain calm and give information slowly. All calls, emergency or not, are answered by the same operators. Callers are asked to report:
• LOCATION of the incident
• Name, address and phone number
• Type of incident
• Whether the crime is in progress or has already happened and the time it happened, if known
• Details which may include: descriptions of any suspects, vehicle description, license plate numbers, direction of travel or other details, if weapons were involved, etc
Callers are asked to remain on the telephone to assist the dispatcher as much as possible. The more information given to the police, the better the emergency can be served. Safety is key and the caller and his/her family should stay out of harm’s way. After the incident is reported, it is a good idea for the caller to write down everything that happened, as they may be contacted for additional information
MOST COMMON CALLS AND QUESTIONS
We receive numerous calls that are not related to POLICE, FIRE or EMS. For these calls we try to assist the best way we can. However you would get better answers to your questions and faster results if you were to call the appropriate agency first.
Phone numbers for NON EMERGENCY POLICE, FIRE and EMS for other cities. This is the number one call we get for information. The phone numbers for other departments can be found in the phone book, on the internet or by calling 4-1-1 (or other information number).
www.whitepages.com
If you are looking for a number to something other than our POLICE, FIRE and EMS you should call information or use the link below.
www.whitepages.com
When your power goes out please contact your energy provider (888-544-4877) or use the link below. We have no control over the electricity in the city and most of the time do not know when it will be back on. Your electric company will have those answers for you.
www.firstenergycorp.com
If your cable and internet are out contact the cable company (877-772-2253).
www.timewarnercable.com
If you need to contact a department in the city that is not POLICE, FIRE or EMS, return to the City of Bedford home page and locate contact numbers for the correct department.