The
Livingston Police Department Communications Center is manned
24 hours per day, 365 days per year by specially trained dispatch
personnel. A dispatcher is the first person an individual
comes into contact with when he or she calls for assistance
from the Livingston Police Department. The dispatchers answer
all 911 calls as well as non-emergency calls and dispatch
the Livingston Fire Department and First Aid Squad in addition
to the Police Department.
Dispatchers have the difficult task of quickly assessing a
call and gathering large amounts of information for responding
officers. To provide officers with as much information as
possible, dispatchers ask a lot of questions, which can vary
depending on the type of call.
In emergency situations, callers can get frustrated by the
number of questions because they are concerned that it causes
a delay in officers' responding to the call. It is important
to remember that, most often, as the dispatcher is getting
information from you, it is being sent to another dispatcher
who initiates the call to an officer and provides him or her
with updated information. Remaining calm and answering the
questions asked by the dispatcher helps ensure the quickest
and safest response by officers.
When should I call 911?
You should call 911 only for an emergency. An emergency is
any situation that requires immediate assistance from the
police, fire department or ambulance. Examples include:
-
A fire
-
A crime, especially if in progress
-
A car crash, especially if someone is injured
-
A medical emergency, such as someone who is unconscious,
gasping for air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic
reaction, having chest pain, having uncontrollable bleeding,
or any other symptoms that require immediate medical attention
Important: If you’re not sure whether the situation
is a true emergency, we recommend calling 911 and letting
the call-taker determine whether you need emergency help.
If you dial 911 by mistake, or if a child in your home dials
911 when no emergency exists, do not hang up—that could
make the dispatcher think that an emergency exists, and possibly
send responders to your location. Instead, stay on the line
and simply explain to the call-taker what happened.
What
questions might I be asked if I call the police in an emergency?
- What
is your location? Be as specific as possible. You should
also give the name of the town where you are located because
911 calls are not always answered by the municipality where
they are made from.
- What
is your emergency (what are you reporting)?
-
What number are you calling from? (This is in case the call
is dropped. It is especially important if you are using
a cell phone)
If
you are reporting a medical emergency, the dispatcher will
ask you questions regarding the injured or sick person.
If a crime is involved, and you saw or can see a suspect,
be prepared to give a description:
- sex
-
race
-
age
-
height
-
weight
-
hair color/length
-
color of eyes
-
clothing description, i.e.hat/cap, jacket/coat, shirt, pants,
shoes
-
other pertinent information such as scars, marks, tattoos
If
a vehicle is involved, you will be asked to describe it:
- license
plate number
-
color
-
year
-
make
-
model
-
style, i.e. 2 door or 4 door, convertible
-
how many occupants
-
any features that stand out, such as dents, stickers, missing
parts, etc.
-
last known direction of travel of suspect(s) and/or vehicle(s)
