911 Communications - NON-Emergency
24 hour NON-Emergency Numbers |
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Bemidji Police Department 218-333-9111 |
Blackduck Police Department |
To contact non-emergency services of the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, the Bemidji Police Department, or the Blackduck Police Department dial 218-333-9111 or toll free 1-888-449-9111. Inquiries for the Jail or questions regarding inmates can be made directly at 218-333-4189. Inquiries for the Records Division can be made directly at 333-4187.
The Beltrami County Emergency Communications Center receives 911 emergency calls, non-emergency calls, and is responsible for maintaining efficient communications with patrol units and emergency services personnel through radio communications. The Communications Center is staffed with highly trained Communications Officers which are available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. In addition to phone and radio assignments, Communications Officers are often the first point of contact for the public seeking assistance in person at the Law Enforcement Center outside of regular business hours.
9-1-1 AND WHAT IT SHOULD BE USED FOR:
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Do not program 9-1-1 into your auto-dial telephone. You won’t forget the number and programming the number invites accidental dialing of the number.
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Dial 9-1-1 only for an emergency. An emergency is any serious medical problem (chest pain, seizure, bleeding), any type of fire (business, car, buildings), or any life-threatening situation (fights, person with weapons, etc.). 9-1-1 can also be used to report crimes in progress whether or not a life is threatened.
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Do not dial 9-1-1 for a non-emergency. Instead dial the agency’s seven digit non-emergency number 218-333-9111 for the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office or Bemidji Police Department. A non-emergency incident is a property damage accident, theft from a motor vehicle when suspect is gone, vandalism (when suspect is gone), panhandlers, intoxicated person who are not disorderly, or cars blocking the street or alleys.
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When dialing 9-1-1, it takes up to 11 seconds before the phone will ring into the Dispatch Center. Do not hang up and try dialing again. You are just tying up the phone lines by doing that. Stay on the phone and wait for it to ring.
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If you call 9-1-1 accidentally, do not hang up the telephone. Instead, stay on the line and explain to the dispatcher that you dialed by mistake and that you do not have an emergency. If you hang up the dispatcher will call back to confirm that there is not an emergency. If you don’t answer a deputy or police officer will be dispatched to confirm that you are okay.
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Briefly describe the type of incident you are reporting. For example, “I’m reporting an auto fire.” Then stay on the line with the dispatcher---do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. In some cases the dispatcher will keep you on the line while the emergency units are responding to ask additional questions or to obtain on-going information.
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Let the dispatcher ask you questions---they have been trained to ask questions that will help prioritize the incident, locate it, and send an appropriate response. Your answers should be brief and responsive. Remain calm and speak clearly. If you are not in a position to give full answers to the dispatcher (the suspect is nearby), stay on the telephone and the dispatcher will ask you questions that can be answered “yes” or “no”.
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Be prepared to describe your location and the location of the emergency. Although an Enhanced 9-1-1 system will display your telephone number and location, the dispatcher must confirm the displayed address or may ask you for a more specific location or information about the victims or suspects.
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If you are a cellular caller, your location will not be displayed for the dispatcher’s reference. You must be able to de describe your location so emergency units can respond. Be aware of your current city or town, address, highway and direction, nearby cross streets or interchanges, or other geographic points of reference.
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Be prepared to describe the person involved in any incident. This includes their race, sex, age, height and weight, color of hair, description of clothing, and presence of a hat, glasses, or facial hair.
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Be prepared to describe any vehicles involved in the incident. This includes the color, year, make, model, and type of vehicle (sedan, pickup, sport utility, van, tanker truck, flatbed, etc.). If the vehicle is parked the dispatcher will need to know the direction it is facing. If the vehicle is moving or has left, the dispatcher will need to know the last direction.
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Be patient as the dispatcher asks you questions. While you are answering the dispatcher’s questions, he/she is entering or writing down the information. If you are reporting an emergency, most likely a response is being made while you are still on the line with the dispatcher.
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Listen to the dispatcher’s instructions for assistance if you are in danger yourself. The dispatcher may tell you to leave the building, secure yourself in a room, or take other actions to protect yourself.
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Don’t hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. Follow any instructions the dispatcher gives you such as meeting the officers at the door or flagging down the firefighters at the curb.