By Jim Bisceglie with the Gilbert Police Department
There are often questions about when to call 911 and when to contact non-emergency assistance. The Gilbert Police Department is always here for our community, whether you have a simple question or find yourself in a crisis.
To help clarify this important issue, I reached out to Kim Weber, our Police Communication Manager. She provided valuable insights on how to determine the appropriate response based on the situation at hand.
9-1-1 should only be used for police, fire, or medical emergencies. Emergencies are incidents that are in progress or have just occurred, posing a threat to life, safety, or potential for significant property loss/damage. Aside from calling 9-1-1, you can also text-to-911. Texting to 9-1-1 is useful when you are in a situation where you cannot speak. Text-to-911 is still reserved for emergencies only. Therefore, if the incident does not meet the above emergency criteria, it is recommended that you call the non-emergency public safety phone number. The non-emergency phone number should be used to report delayed crimes or if you have public safety-related questions.
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