Calling 9-1-1

When should I call 9-1-1?

When you have a Police, Fire or Medical emergency.
There is a situation that could, or does, pose a danger to life, property or both.
There is a suspicious activity involving a person(s) or vehicle that appears to have criminal intent.
Any situation that requires immediate dispatch of an officer.

Please be prepared to give the call taker your location. That is the most important piece of information we can get from you, and although we can sometimes locate you by your cell phone, that's not always the case.

Remain calm and patient while the 9-1-1 call taker asks you questions. 9-1-1 call takers are trained to ask specific questions that quickly determine what is wrong, and what type of assistance to send. Please stay on the line until the call taker tells you to hang up.

When should I call the non-emergency number?

The non-emergency number for Midwest City (MWCPD) dispatch is 405-732-2266.

You want to report a nuisance, such as a noise or parking complaint.
To report a non-emergency crime - one that did not just occur, and the suspects are not in the immediate area.
You have questions about something suspicious occurring in your neighborhood, and you are not sure it is criminal activity.

The call taker will determine how best to handle your call. In some cases, your information will be taken and you will get a call back from the telephone reporting unit, and your report may be taken over the phone.

Tips when calling 9-1-1

Be Prepared for the following questions

WHERE did this occur? Did it happen on the street, inside, outside, in front or in back, etc?
WHAT happened?
WHEN did this occur? Is the event still in progress?

Know where the emergency is occurring

An exact street address is best. Look at numbers posted on buildings around you. View the street signs to provide hundred-block or intersection information.
If you are driving, be aware of the road or highway on which you are traveling. Look for landmarks or businesses that are very near to your location.
It is a very good idea to post your address and phone number near your telephone. In an emergency situation is it easy to forget the most basic of information.

Stay as calm as you can

Remain calm and patient.
Take a deep breath before speaking. Time seems to slow down when you are in an emergency. Your cooperation is essential to quickly getting help started.
Briefly state the nature of the call.
“I need to report a fire….” Or “I need to report a break-in at my home."

Let the 9-1-1 Call taker ask the questions

Even if the call taker's questions seem unrelated or repetitious, let the call taker lead the conversation and answer their questions. Call takers are trained to gather information in a certain order to quickly assess the situation and decide what assistance is best to help you. They may need to clarify a previous answer, or may already be aware of the situation you are reporting and need to find out if you have any additional information.

Please be patient, they may also be dispatching emergency responders on the radio, so they may ask you to repeat some of the details of the call.

They may transfer you to a non-emergency line

There are times when the 911 Center is extremely busy. If they need to get a lot of information from you, or you want them to stay on the line until responders arrive, they may transfer you to a non-emergency line to keep the 911 lines open. They are not hanging up on you, just trying to make sure that everyone who has an emergency is able to get through. Simply stay on the line and they will continue to assist you.

Stay on the line if you can

Stay on the line until the 9-1-1 call taker tells you they have all the information they need. In some instances, they will ask if you can stay on the phone with them until officers arrive. This is to gather additional information if the situation changes before officers arrive.
If it is not safe for you to stay on the phone, let the call taker know this immediately.

If you misdial and accidentally call 9-1-1, DO NOT hang up

Wait until your call is answered and explain that you misdialed.
If you hang up, a call taker will call you back to see if you have a police or fire emergency. If the call taker is unable to reach you, police response will be sent to your location to check on your welfare.

Teach your children about 9-1-1

Teach your children about what 9-1-1 is and when it is okay to call 9-1-1. Let them know that playing with the phone and calling 9-1-1 is a bad idea because it may cause the line to be tied up and someone who is really in trouble may not get help as quickly.

It is against the law to call 9-1-1 when you don't have an emergency

9-1-1 lines are for emergencies that threaten lives or property, and are currently happening. Keeping 911 lines free for actual emergencies is critical. Calling 9-1-1 for non-emergency matters is a violation of Oklahoma Title §63-2820.