One frustrating, waste of time, events we regularly handle as emergency 9-1-1 dispatchers are dealing with those 9-1-1 calls that aren’t emergencies. You know what I’m talking about. Those 9-1-1 callers who say oops misdial or those people who give their little kids their cells phones so the kids can push buttons and tone to deaf the dispatcher answering the phone.
I love those callers that when you call them back to confirm everything is okay after a 9-1-1 hang up or abandoned call and they argue with you and want to know why you’re bothering them and calling them for no reason. Do they honestly believe I am that bored that I dial numbers randomly just to accuse them of falsely calling 9-1-1?
How many of you have had this call?
Me: Hello. Hello. (over an open 9-1-1 call)
Caller: Hello? Is there someone on this phone?
Me: Hello. This is ________ Police Department. We received a 9-1-1 call from this cell phone. Is everything okay?
Caller: Oh my. Yes. Everything is okay. I put my cell phone in my purse/bag/briefcase/backpack (choose one) and it must have accidentally dialed out. I could hear voices yelling “hello”. Was that you?
Me: Yes sir/madam (choose one again). I am trying to confirm if there is a problem.
Caller: Well, clearly it was an accident. I just said I heard voices coming from my purse/bag/briefcase/backpack (do you really need to choose again?) and was answering.
Me: Yes sir/madam (never mind). I understand about the voices you hear from no where. (Okay, it is my dream to say that.)
10 comments:
I hear you! I get at least 20 of these a day! What gets me is when you have to keep calling because the kids are hanging up on you thinking you'll go away! Officers are rolling their way to check on them. The the while we have 911 real emergency calls holding!
My officer started citing them for it! Yea!!!! Maybe he's tired of going to those calls, or tired of me complaining about them! Hmmm...
-Dispatcher
My favorite was when I called the phone back and the guy thought I was a prank call. He told me he'd get me in trouble by calling 911 to prove I was wrong. I said "OK" and when he called 911, I answered. He was much more cordial after that.
The ones I hate are the people that argue: "My phone didn't dial 911." I always want to say "Yeah, you're right. We're just bored and to pass the time we call random people and try to convince them they just called 911."
Yep. Had one at about 0400 this morning. Gets on my damn nerves.
you guys don't get any respect......... hugss ya
great site, I am a cop in Canada and have a blog called www.acopsthoughts.com and also do a vidcast with a buddy called www.2guysunleashed.com.
Your welcome to stop in anytime and check us out.
Why can't people just listen and answer the question? Must be so annoying.
laughs just laughs........... hubby bought me a blackberry a few years ago........ it would dial whatever the last number was on my phone....... I was antique shopping and heard a "voice from my crotch", (purse was on the floor of the car)..........Boy was i embarrassed...................... Thank goodness they understood......... Sometimes it is the person, sometimes it is the cellphone!!!
Thanks for doing your job.
And to these fools we rush, with lights and sirens.
George on Zone12 is one of the best dispatchers we've ever had. Please tell him that the troops appreciate him.
Oh and don't forget the calls from 911 access only cells. Gotta love those.
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