911:: Re: Non-Emergency on 9-1-1

[Guest guest]

> Patty, we regularly have security officers for businesses

> and apartment complexes in Arlington and Fairfax Counties

> who call us because the mailing address is 'Falls Church.'

> Alarm companies call us for locations miles outside our

> jurisdiction. Then the alarm monitor operators argue

> with us. " It says right here, 'Falls Church.' You are

> Falls Church, aren't you? " " Yes, ma'am, we are. But

> the address that you gave us isn't in Falls Church. "

> <grumble>

We have a similar problem, not only with the alarm companies, but some

of the citizens themselves. I usually just point out that we decline

to accept resposibilty for what the US Postal Service does and give

them the right number.

Far more frustrating for folks is when they call phone co 4-1-1 for

the number of a police agency that doesn't exist (an unincorporated

community) and the operator (who is probably under pressure of a

computer monitor on how many calls per minute they can handle) gives

them our number (Arroyo Grande is at the top of the alphabetical list

for law enforcement for our area - my Chief refuses to entertain

suggesting to the City Council that we change the name of the City to

Zorro Grande <g>). Since virtually all of these folks are calling

long distance, they are both given the correct number (for the

Sheriff's Office - as they will no doubt end up calling again) and

then are transferred.

Roy Mumaw

CAPD Arroyo Grande