How to Call for Police Assistance

Police dispatchers have specific information that they must gather from every caller based on the information the caller provides.  The Police dispatchers must ask questions in a certain order to determine how the call may best be handled.  It is imperative that when you call the Tempe Police that you allow the Police dispatcher to ask you questions.

 

Calls are handled based on what is happening and when it happened.  All calls are prioritized based on the details the dispatcher obtains.  The priority determines when the call should be dispatched.  Police dispatchers obtain information using the who, what, where, why, when, and how method:
alert.gif (1971 bytes) Where the crime occurred.  Tempe Police handle crimes that have occurred in Tempe.  The where starts with an exact address or an intersection, if that is all that is available.  The dispatcher will need details such as: business name, suite number, apartment complex name, building numbers, and apartment numbers.  The dispatcher will also ask where all of the parties involved in the incident are currently located.  The more exact information the call-taker is able to obtain, the quicker the police officer's response will be in emergency situations.  If the crime occurred in a different city, the caller will be referred to the appropriate agency.

 
alert.gif (1971 bytes) What type of crime occurred.  The dispatcher must know what has occurred to determine how to handle the call.  Initially, the dispatcher will obtain a basic idea of what type of crime occurred.  We also receive calls that do not require police assistance.   Police officers investigate criminal offenses, but will not usually investigate anything that is civil.  Dispatchers will refer those callers to the appropriate entity.

 
alert.gif (1971 bytes) When the crime occurred. Each call is handled differently based on when it occurred.  A caller reporting an armed robbery that just occurred will be questioned much differently than a caller reporting a window that was broken the day before. 

 
alert.gif (1971 bytes) Who is involved.  There are many "who's" involved in each call that requests assistance such as:  who is the victim, who is the suspect, who is the witness, who is reporting the incident.  Each of the people involved in an incident should be identified prior to the officer arriving, when possible.  The dispatcher will also ask for descriptions of certain people involved in an incident.   The dispatcher must gather information in the same order, so it is very helpful for the caller to allow the dispatcher to ask questions.

 
alert.gif (1971 bytes) Why the crime occurred.  For certain types of incidents the dispatcher will need to know why the crime occurred.  During a burglary in progress, if the suspect has been determined to be an ex-roommate, it would be helpful for the officers to know there is a dispute over property.  Certain other types of crimes, such as a stolen car stereo that occurred some time during the night, the victim will not usually know why it occurred.

 
alert.gif (1971 bytes) How the crime occurred.  Dispatchers only obtain pertinent details while talking to callers.  Dispatchers do have to determine how a crime occurred on certain calls, such as a robbery.  Was the robbery committed with a weapon or some sort of force?  If there was no weapon or force used, it is usually a burglary or theft instead.  The officer will do a complete investigation after arriving on scene.