How to Contact the Police

The police are an ever-present force designed to serve, protect and uphold the law. Hopefully, you will never find yourself in a situation where you will need to contact the police for help. But if you are calling them for whatever reason, it's important to know how to contact them. Here are some things to remember when contacting the police.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Call emergency numbers only when necessary. 911 is in place to handle emergency and life-threatening situations only. If your situation is not life-threatening and you are not in extreme danger, call the local police rather than calling 911. Problems like a flat tire or even a car that has been broken into but the thief has left the area are upsetting but are not emergencies that require 911. Before you contact the police, consider whether your situation is a true emergency and call the appropriate authorities.
2. Call from a landline phone if possible. Calls made from cell phones can be picked up and rerouted through several different cell phone towers before being received by the police station which can make it difficult for police to determine your location. If you are able to call from a landline telephone it is easier for the police dispatcher to find you and send help to the correct location.
3. Stay calm. It is understandable that you will be upset if you have been in an accident, experienced a break-in or witnessed a crime. But in order for the police to help you effectively, they need vital information to assess the situation and decide on a plan of action. Stay calm and level-headed and focus on helping the police while you are on the phone with them rather than focusing on what has happened.
4. Include the important details. If you contact the police, they need to know basic information such as your location, your name, what has happened, if you are injured and if you are in danger. If you have witnessed an accident, include any information relevant to the accident such as the number of cars involved, any people that are injured and license plate numbers if they are requested. Giving the police this information will help them respond to the situation in the best way possible.
5. Be honest. If you are contacting the police after being involved in an accident, be honest and straightforward with the authorities. Being dishonest about your involvement in the situation will not allow them to help you or any other involved parties effectively and could get you into trouble for lying or obstructing the police.