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:

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

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.

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.