# Do you know your local police's phone number? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2010, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167 "2010-09-09T12:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/21 "2010-09-09T14:35:38Z")
I voted other option because I do sort of know it, but often forget the exchange. 808-2222. I believe the reason I forget the exchange is that back in the 1990s, the heavily ads for _Phantom of the Opera_ tickets had a similar number with all the 2s, so in my head I hear the Spooky Voice, saying "Call now at 1-800-XXX-2222… surrender to the music of the night.: ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/22 "2010-09-09T14:40:17Z")
I got the extension of the non-emergency dispatching desk of local police HQ in my mobile’s phone book - but that’s exceptional from an election campaign twelve years ago when we party activists watched placards at night when there was a rash of vandalism, and we liaised with police beforehand. A year ago I called the number to report a group of youths who had half-heartedly tried to pick a fight with me (I declined) - not an emergency, just asked them to keep an eye on them. It’s quite exceptional here in Germany to have such a number in one’s phone book - people are asked to always dial 110 for police, 112 for other emergency (always 112 on a mobile). ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/23 "2010-09-09T14:51:51Z")
In Chicago you can dial 311 to get directed to the non-emergency police line, as well as many other city services. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/24 "2010-09-09T17:16:33Z")
Have it plainly posted near the phone for easy access, if ever needed ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/25 "2010-09-09T17:56:07Z")
Yes, but only because I work there. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/26 "2010-09-09T18:09:08Z")
Yeah, we used to have problem neighbors with late weeknight parties and such. It’s under “Po-po” on my phone. ETA - here at least 311 is only during the day. At 3 AM when the neighbors are still rockin’ it, you have to call somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/27 "2010-09-09T18:55:17Z")
I’m a fireman/EMT, and the business number is how I contact the dispatcher to finish my reports. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/28 "2010-09-09T19:13:16Z")
We moved recently and I didn’t have the new one until a guy at my bus stop gave it to me. I called to let them know about the man who was sleeping under a blanket on the playground equipment surrounded by homes and across the street from an elementary school at 7AM. At least I hope he was only sleeping . . . ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/29 "2010-09-09T19:16:45Z")
I used to know the non emergency number by heart. I worked at a gas station and needed it, several times. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/30 "2010-09-09T22:24:57Z")
I don’t know it. If I was at home and there was anything going on that required immediate assistance, I would call 911. Otherwise I have time to look it up. If I am on the road, half the time you don’t even know what township you are in so you would have to call 911 anyway. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/31 "2010-09-10T02:21:25Z")
The only reason I know it is from working for the City about 10 years ago. We in the Public Works Department had reason to call up there from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/32 "2010-09-10T02:38:39Z")
I have the non-emergency number in my cell phone. It just seemed a useful thing to have in there ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/33 "2010-09-10T03:04:38Z")
Yeah, I put it in my phone a few months ago. I’d need to scan my contacts list, because I don’t know it off the top of my head, but I’ve got it in case I need it. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/34 "2010-09-10T04:44:20Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > We’re not supposed to call the front desk of the precinct directly. If you want the police on a non-emergency basis, you’re supposed to call the “City Services” hotline (311) and they dispatch your call to the appropriate authority (including 911 if needed). I imagine this is intended to – and does – filter out quite a lot of things which are not really police matters, like neighbors not shoveling snow or leaving out trash for days (which here in NYC are policed by lower-level civil enforcement agencies). > > However, I have been told by local police that for certain things that ARE obviously police matters but do not involve any risk of life & limb (such as reporting your car stolen) you must still call 911 to get dispatch. They literally won’t take the call if you call the station directly, other than to say “call 911.” My county also has 311 and I can’t figure out what it’s for. It appears to be “government services and inquiries,” whatever that means. I think you call it if you want to complain about your county councilman or find out the public library hours or something. They do say they can transfer to 911 or a Crisis Hotline, but that sounds like an emergency number. The county police have a separate 10-digit non-emergency line. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/35 "2010-09-10T07:24:04Z")
No local cops, we have to use the staties here. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/36 "2010-09-10T07:55:06Z")
I voted that I would need time to search, but that’s easy. Just checked whitepages.co.nz and the number is…8586200 Also, traffic non-emergency is \*555. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/37 "2010-09-10T13:27:33Z")
It’s easy - the local exchange plus 1911. I call there for work a bit, plus the SO’s admin line and the emergency manager’s direct line. I think I have the Sheriff and the Police Chiefs’ numbers in my phone, too. Never had to call for an emergency, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/38 "2010-09-10T14:04:51Z")
France, and no I don’t. They’re on a magnet thingy on the fridge, though. That being said, we have different emergency numbers here so the original issue wouldn’t be a problem. If I understand correctly, in the US 911 is the go-to for any and all emergencies, and the operators then dispatch fire trucks, EMTs or squad cars as needed. Here in France you call either 15 for the EMTs, 17 for the police, 18 for fire and rescue services. As far as I know, these numbers all automatically connect you to the closest PD/Hospital/Fire Dpt from where you’re calling if you’re using a landline, but I could be wrong - I don’t ever remember actually using them. Don’t know how it works for cells, either. There’s also the 115 for social services and 119 for child protective services, but I had to look them up. We now also actually have a 911 dispatch service as well, because people who got their learnin’ from the TV think it’s the emergency number…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/39 "2010-09-10T17:50:21Z")
I don’t know it off the top of my head, but the Santa Rosa PD # is in my phone, as well as the Sonoma County Sheriff, and the SFPD, since we are in the city fairly frequently. I’ve called the local dept. a dozen times are so. I say with live in the ‘ghetto’ somewhat facetiously all the time since I actually rather like where we live, but the truth is it is one of the sketchier parts of town and there has been gang activity outside my bedroom window on several occasions. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167/40 "2010-09-10T18:30:52Z")
I know my local non-emergency number and have many neighboring town non-emergency numbers in my phone. For those who say that 911 is sufficient, here is my scenario… I am a suicide hotline volunteer. When on shift, we answer all suicide hotline calls that originate from phones within New Jersey. Occasionally I need to call the police. A typical example would be if I am speaking with a person who took an overdose of some pills and is fading, but called us—how am I supposed to get police to their home? If I call 911, then the phone is answered by a local police dispatcher, and there are layers of dispatchers forwarding me to other dispatchers, and occasionally cop cars get sent to our organization’s office address instead of the place where the person is located. If the person is in Trenton, it’s much easier to call the direct line to Trenton city police and explain the situation to them. And the non-emergency number is useful for when I get annoying teenagers calling our hotline playing games. I don’t mind one prank call, but if the same kids call three or four times I’ll reverse-lookup their phone number (it’s almost always their parents’ listed number) and call their local township police and kindly ask the dispatcher who answers if he/she could call the kids and tell them to knock it off. This is not a 911 emergency in my mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-your-local-polices-phone-number/553167.md?page=1)