January 15, 2008
Citywide Call Center Number to Change to 311
Mayor Adrian Fenty is going to make an official announcement next week that the Mayor's Citywide Call Center, currently 727-1000, will change its number to 311.
Yesterday on the MPD-maintained email listserves, a police spokesperson posted messages indicating there had been a change in policy in when and under what circumstances residents should call 311 versus 911. Penn Quarter Living pointed out the message on the 1st District listserv, and we found a similar one on the 3rd District listserv:
Curtis Edwards, the city's 311 operations manager, explained that the change is due to a soft launch this week of the transition of the Citywide Call Center number to 311. Residents will soon be directed to call 311 only when requesting city services, and 911 in any circumstance to reach police, fire or EMS.Police & Fire Department’s Emergency & Non Emergency Number: 9-1-1 (per Office of Unified Communications Jan 14, 2008)
To Request City Services (graffiti removal, assistance with abandoned cars and abandoned houses, etc.) dial 3-1-1
Currently 311 is described on the Office of Unified Communications web site as "the toll-free telephone number for non-emergency police, fire, and rescue services," but this move would change that.
"What we're saying is that you should always call 911 when you need a police, fire or EMS response," Edwards said.
The Mayor mentioned this upcoming change earlier this month, which was part of his original 100 Days and Beyond action plan.
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That sounds like a horrible idea. Why would you combine emergency and non-emergency police calls? 911 is barely responsive enough as it is.
I'm doubtful/worried that 911 will be able to handle the increased volume of calls.
so even though they answer "911 what's your emergency" you should call them if you don't have one?
sooo the social worker from booker t. washington wouldn't have gotten any response at all calling 911 right?
No, you got the wrong number. This is 9-1-2.
No, you got the wrong number. This is 9-1-2.
It's a terrible idea. There are times when I've called 311 and I would never use 911 to clog up the system.
I can see it now...
"911 What's your emergency?"
"Well, someone smashed my car window again. I need to file a police report."
"Sir, this line is for emergency purposes. Please call 311." (click)
Dial 311...
"311 City Infomration Desk. How may I help you today?"
"Hi, someone smashed my car window for the fifteenth time in the past 6 months, I need to file a police report."
"We're sorry, sir, but that's a police matter. Please call 911." (click)
Actually, this could be a genius, Kafka-esque way for DC to wipe its hands cleans of having to deal with all the petty, minor crime issues that plague the city. Because no one will be willing to navigate the bureaucratic nightmarish maze that they are about to unleash, people will stop reporting minor, non-emergency crimes and Fenty and Lanier will be able to hold press conferences about how crime in the city is plumetting. On the plus side, our car insurance rates should drop, as no one will be able to file a claim any more. Fantastic. Why didn't they think of this sooner?
awful, awful plan by the city. why go against how 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 work everywhere else in the country?
Because, Goat Boy, to standardize things would make just too much sense.
This is an idea so bad it smells like a day-old diaper in an unairconditioned house in the middle of August.
What they said. Also, why couldn't the mayor / MPD publicly announce they were thinking about doing this, and explain the basis in detail, before announcing that it's a done deal? It's not like it's a little tweak they are announcing.