Useful tips on how 9-1-1 works in relation to the police
Non Emergency Reporting
- The police non-emergency number in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows is 604-463-6251
- The non-emergency line is for situations where immediate response or dispatch of police is NOT REQUIRED
- Examples: Reporting crime with no suspect, reporting ongoing drug use, loud parties
- The call-taker has a bit more time to gather more information
What is a non-emergency call?
- No immediate Threat to life or propert
- Less of a chance of an escalation (e.g. noisy party)
- Crime already happened (stolen vehicle), suspect no longer on scene
RCMP File Numbers
Once a report is taken by a Report Agent, they will issue you a file number. Example: RM13-12345
- RM - for Ridge Meadows
- 13 - for the year 2013
- 12345 - number of files created to date.
Emergency Calling 9-1-1
When to call 9-1-1
- Something "in progress" - e.g. fights, break and enters (if suspects on scene), impaired driver report.
- Something that has "just occurred" - e.g. serious crime such as sexual assault, robbery
- Something "about to occur" - e.g. vandal, prowler
- Any threat to life and/or property - e.g. screams, attacks, gunshots, fire, accident with injuries/medical
What to expect when you call 9-1-1:
- A call-taker will answer by saying: "9-1-1: do you need police, fire, or ambulance?"
- Tell the call-taker which service you require and for which City.
- You will then be transferred to the requested agency where they will answer with, for example, " Ridge-Meadows RCMP emergencies"
Event in progress or "just occurred"
- A call-taker will obtain the initial information
- They will pass on pertinent information to the dispatcher through the computer system
- The dispatcher will broadcast the event to all units (cars), or to a specific channel based on the type of call
Calling 9-1-1 using the 7 W's
- What is happening or just happened?
- Where is your location and the location the incident is occurring?
- When did it happen, has there been a time delay?
- What are you observing? a crime in progress or is it about to happen?
- Where did the suspect flee? On foot or in a vehicle?
- What kind of vehicle was involved? Description and plate # if known?
- Where is the suspect's direction of travel?
