Posted on 10/01/2021 8:12:04 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
Police officers in one of the largest cities in Texas are no longer responding to calls that are deemed non-emergencies as of Oct. 1.
In situations including when there is no immediate threat to life or property, residents and others in Austin are being told to submit a report online or call 311 because a call to 911 will not yield a response.
The change in policy stems from recommendations from the Reimagining 911 and Non-Police Crisis Response, interim Austin Chief of Police Joseph Chacon told a briefing this week. He also cited concerns about COVID-19 exposure for officers and the public, a lack of manpower due to challenges hiring enough officers, and a jump in 911 calls this year from previous years.
“A non-emergency is an incident in which the incident is no longer in progress, the suspect or the people involved are no longer on scene, and there is no further immediate threat to life or property,” Chacon said.
“If the call that you’re calling about does not meet all of that criteria, then we define that as an emergency call, that a call to 911 is appropriate,” he added.
Calls that won’t yield a police response provided they meet the criteria include those dealing with animals, attempted theft of property, burglaries at residences or businesses, and vehicular crashes if neither vehicle requires a tow and there are no injuries.
In some cases, civilian crime technicians may respond to collect evidence at the scene.
Those who call 311 are being told they’ll likely be put on hold for some time because the operation center is experiencing staffing issues as well. They can always go online and submit a report.
The 311 calls and online reports will be investigated down the line, if such an investigation is deemed appropriate, Chacon said.
“What I would say is that if a person is in doubt about whether it’s an emergency or not, then just call 911 and that is going to be the best way to make sure that you know. We will help you sort that out and and and get you pointed in the right direction,” he said.
The Austin Police Commission, which represents officers, did not respond to a request for comment. The office of Austin Mayor Steve Adler, a Democrat, did not immediately respond to an inquiry.
Darin Short, a North Carolina man, told KXAN-TV that his daughter and 12 friends were in Austin in September and called 911 when the rental property they were staying in was burglarized.
They were told to call 311, which later directed them to file an online report.
“No law enforcement official arrived at the location,” Short said.
Part of the movement to destroy America so they can “build back better”
You’ve been robbed? File a report online.
The police have become like every other old franchise restaurant chain that doesn’t deliver to its customers any longer. Think McDonald’s and Burger King.
Still exist but you go elsewhere.
They don’t realize it, but it’s because we no longer have God and country to hold us together. And barely family.
If the police are so unimportant in keeping citizens safe, why do we need armed security for the politicians?
Of course, it only becomes an emergency after you shoot the son-of-a-bitch.
Aim well or fire enough times to make sure he is dead and then there is no emergency. It’s not like someone will die if the police don’t get there quickly.
Actually a little worse in Washington state.
If you call 911 for a shooting, robbery or assault and the police arrive, they will not pursue a culprit who has left the scene.
> Reimagining 911 <
I just love how politicians - and especially liberal politicians - pick innocent-sounding names for really bad ideas.
So, in the People’s Communist Gulag of Austin, if you are still being shot at by criminals, the police will respond.
But if someone calls to say there’s a dead body on the lawn and the shooters are not around, the police will not bother to show up. Instead, a “civilian crime technician” or someone from the coroner’s office will be sent to bag up the body.
That's fine, defund them all.
I'll police myself and family.
80% of the same needy people use 80% of a municipalities services.
People like us got this.
Police officers in one of the largest cities in Texas are no longer responding to calls that are deemed non-emergencies as of Oct. 1. In situations including when there is no immediate threat to life or property, residents and others in Austin are being told to submit a report online or call 311 because a call to 911 will not yield a response.
~~~~~
This article is just a lie, and I don’t appreciate a lie being paraded as a conservative value. 911 is supposed to be reserved for emergencies only. A police department announcing that it will no longer respond to non-emergency 911 calls is stating something which should have already been policy. If it wasn’t then the policy up to the announcement was wrong, and needed to be corrected.
More abandonment of actual government duties to pursue other, more important things.
Another well run demoncrat city!
They you can’t call the cops when someone misgenders you.
There are some pretty lame 911 calls that need ignoring. But I’ll definitely admit that I’m glad I don’t have to screen them.
I don’t necessarily have a problem with this. 911 is for emergencies - serious injuries, threat of life, fires etc. But switching numbers may not be the right solution. 911 operators can transfer the call. With all the technology it’s not like we’re in 1920 with cable cord switchboards.
But this story does remind of the Trump ad where the caller dials 911 and gets voicemail.
Murder too, presuming the victim is dead and the perp didn't hang around. After all, what's the rush if the victim is dead and the perp has fled. Robbery, assault unless the perp hangs around no big deal.
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Should have noted they’ll probably respond to a self defense incident since a surviving victim is a potential threat.
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