Comments on: This Has Got To Be One Of The Stupidiest Ideas http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/ Welcome to the beautiful life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:27:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: MKing http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90162 MKing Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:12:15 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90162 they weren't trying at the time - they had tried (unwitnessed) and failed they weren’t trying at the time – they had tried (unwitnessed) and failed

]]> By: eric http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90161 eric Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:57:13 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90161 you don't think someone in progress of breaking into your car is an emergency? geez. you don’t think someone in progress of breaking into your car is an emergency? geez.

]]> By: bogfrog http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90160 bogfrog Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:00:22 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90160 Matt - good points. As I posted on CH News, I think the best results come when you take it upon yourself to GO to the police station and explain the non-urgent problem to an officer. Well, it helps when the police station is on the next block. Matt – good points.

As I posted on CH News, I think the best results come when you take it upon yourself to GO to the police station and explain the non-urgent problem to an officer. Well, it helps when the police station is on the next block.

]]> By: Matt http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90159 Matt Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:17:42 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90159 I think that there are some merits to this, if their logic is what I'm thinking: In the separate 311/911 system, the caller is asked to determine if a crime is in progress or if public safety is at risk, and dial the phone accordingly. Some callers probably make this call easily, but some might always think one way or another. If the call is made incorrectly, it has to be transferred from 311 to 911, or vice versa. Combining all the calls into one center moves that decision point to the emergency services operator, not the caller. The caller still gets to describe what is happening, but the operator/dispatcher decides how much priority to give it. I would imagine that the operators have a much better feel for what is an urgent need when compared with your average caller. It will allow for more of a continuum, rather than the old "emergency or not" system. Just my 2 cents. I think that there are some merits to this, if their logic is what I’m thinking:

In the separate 311/911 system, the caller is asked to determine if a crime is in progress or if public safety is at risk, and dial the phone accordingly. Some callers probably make this call easily, but some might always think one way or another. If the call is made incorrectly, it has to be transferred from 311 to 911, or vice versa.

Combining all the calls into one center moves that decision point to the emergency services operator, not the caller. The caller still gets to describe what is happening, but the operator/dispatcher decides how much priority to give it. I would imagine that the operators have a much better feel for what is an urgent need when compared with your average caller.

It will allow for more of a continuum, rather than the old “emergency or not” system.

Just my 2 cents.

]]> By: poo poo http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90158 poo poo Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:28:11 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90158 routing 311 calls to 911 is not really a big deal IF the operator is smart enough to know how to categorize your call, and where to send it. maybe the change took place because MPD actually sent their operators to some training. routing 311 calls to 911 is not really a big deal IF the operator is smart enough to know how to categorize your call, and where to send it. maybe the change took place because MPD actually sent their operators to some training.

]]> By: mjbrox http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90157 mjbrox Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:38:01 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90157 I felt like 311 was great way to call for non-emergency issues that the police needed to be made aware of. I have call 311 numerous time for things that would not feel comfortable calling 911 about. I felt like 311 was great way to call for non-emergency issues that the police needed to be made aware of. I have call 311 numerous time for things that would not feel comfortable calling 911 about.

]]> By: MKing http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90156 MKing Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:02:55 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90156 I called 311 last week to make a report of someone trying to break into my car (and causing some damage). It went directly to 911. I said, "oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to call 911. This is not an emergency." I was surprised that the operator said, " yeah, those calls come here now." So apparently, the 311 calls are going into 911 and not into the 727-1000 number. I called 311 last week to make a report of someone trying to break into my car (and causing some damage). It went directly to 911. I said, “oh I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call 911. This is not an emergency.” I was surprised that the operator said, ” yeah, those calls come here now.” So apparently, the 311 calls are going into 911 and not into the 727-1000 number.

]]> By: Washington City Paper: News & Features: Blogs http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90155 Washington City Paper: News & Features: Blogs Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:54:46 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90155 [...] of Petworth is down on the new 911/311 policies. We agree. The city has never really gotten the response times to an adequate level. Calling 311 [...] [...] of Petworth is down on the new 911/311 policies. We agree. The city has never really gotten the response times to an adequate level. Calling 311 [...]

]]> By: AngryParakeet http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90154 AngryParakeet Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:17:45 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90154 My experience with 311 was that 3/4 the time I got a rapid police response, the other 1/4, no response. Never have called 911. My experience with 311 was that 3/4 the time I got a rapid police response, the other 1/4, no response. Never have called 911.

]]> By: eric http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2008/01/this-has-got-to-be-one-of-the-stupidiest-ideas/#comment-90153 eric Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:11:14 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=1329#comment-90153 david hit the nail on the head. 311 was a placebo. david hit the nail on the head. 311 was a placebo.

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