WIIKWEMKOONG—911 calls for service can be and are usually related to some- one in dire need of assis- tance or to report a major incident.
“However, there has been an increase in non-emer- gency 911 hang-up calls that police must respond to,” the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) reports. “Between March 2022 and March 2023 there has been a 380 percent increase in 911 hang up calls (or pocket dials) that the WTPS have had to respond to.”
“When police have to respond to 911 hang up calls or pocket dials, it takes time to investigate and, in most cases, it turns out to be no emergency,” the release continues. “This can be a serious time strain on not only the 911 opera- tors who dispatch the police but also to the responding police service.”
WTPS reminds the public to ensure that they do not have 911 on any type of speed dial. Further, that if some- one does dial 911 by accident, to please stay on the line, answer the dispatcher’s questions and advise them that it was accidental and that there is no emergency.
Not doing so results in police having to search for an address, name of the caller or the area the call came from, and is a strain on resources, the police report.
“Police understand that accidental calls do happen but by staying on the line and confirming no emergency this will help prevent any unnecessary time investigating the call,” the police release states.
