The 911 system is designed to handle the following types of situations:
The 911 dispatchers are specifically instructed to handle emergency calls. When you call 911, the dispatcher will assess your situation and may instruct you to call back on the non-emergency number. Please don't take this as an insult; the dispatcher knows information you do not, such as the number of dispatchers working, and the number of other calls coming in on the 911 lines. The non-emergency line for the Portage Police Department is 329-4567. Use this number when you need to report something that is not an emergency. Examples of non-emergency calls include: reporting that your bicycle was stolen sometime during the previous night, reporting a car deer accident that occurred yesterday, dogs barking excessively, or a parking complaint.
WHEN YOU SEE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, CALL THE POLICE! The dispatchers are trained to decide whether or not your situation warrants police response. It does not do anyone any good to find out after a burglary has occurred, that a neighbor saw a suspicious car backed into the victim's driveway. When in doubt, call the police! Just a note about response time...invariably, when you need the police, so will everyone else in the city! Calls are dispatched on a priority system, with emergency situations given first priority. Even if an officer is unable to respond as quickly as you would like, it is still important for you to report suspicious activities. If the operator tells you an officer will respond, we will respond. Even if our response is not immediate, your call will be dispatched for all of the patrol officers to hear and will generate a patrol car coming through your neighborhood. * It has been the neighborhood watches personal experience that the Portage Police are usually very quick to respond to calls from this neighborhood, especially the emergency ones. They also do a number of extra drive-throughs in our neighborhood, to make sure that we are safe!
1. LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCIES (Fires, accidents, etc.)
2. MEDICAL EMERGENCIES (Injuries, heart attackes, choking, etc.)
3. CRIMES IN PROGRESS (Burglaries, fights, etc.)
When reporting a crime or emergency to your law
enforcement agency, the following information is needed: 1. Your name and
address. 2. The type of crime
or emergency. 3. The exact location
of the situation. 4. The description of
the vehicle and/or suspect involved. 5. The direction of
flight. 6. The time of the
occurrence. 7. Any weapon, if
used. If so, what type. The above seven requested items are very important.
However, do not wait to call until you can answer all of them. Call as soon as
you observe said crime or emergency, then attempt to obtain the answers to
numbers four through seven.
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