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Crime & Safety

Calling 911: A Patch Primer

The Maryland-National Capital Park Police wants you to have the 411 on dialing 911.

911 is number that is ingrained in all of us at a young age: “If there is an emergency and you need help, dial 911.” While a friendly person will always answer and do their best to assist you with your emergency, there are some things that you can do to help the police and fire departments provide the best service possible.

The Maryland-National Capital Park Police offers community seminars called “Park Watch: Help Keep Your Park Safe and Crime Free. The presentation offers tips on how to be more observant when in local parks, as well as how to handle yourself when calling in an emergency or suspicious situation.

Patch sat down with the Park Police’s Lt. Lauryn McNeill to learn more about how citizens can help emergency responders.

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“Trust your instincts,” says McNeill. “You know the comings and goings of your neighbors, and most people have a good sense of when something is just not right. The analogy she uses to illustrate her point is “You don’t want your home broken into because a neighbor didn’t call in an incident, do you? Follow the “golden rule” and call it in!”

If you see a situation that doesn’t seem right to you and decide to call 911 for help, there are five basic things that the operator will want to know about the person(s) involved:

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  • Race/skin tone
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Number of persons involved
  • Direction and method of travel if the person(s) leave the scene

Then, adding in details can be invaluable:

  • Weight/build
  • Scars/tattoos
  • Facial hair
  • Gait
  • Jewelry
  • Hair length/style
  • Speech/Accent

If there is a vehicle involved, you’ll want to describe the following:

  • Type of vehicle
  • Color
  • Tag (with State and style)
  • Make and Model
  • Year or style
  • Number of doors
  • Any visible damage
  • Number of occupants
  • Direction of travel and rate of speed.

In the coming weeks, Patch will bring you additional tips from the Maryland-National Capital Park Police on how to be more observant of your surroundings, including some fun interactive activities. If you would like to have the Maryland-National Capital Park Police come to your community and give their presentation, please call 301-949-8010.

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