In Boston, 911 is the defacto police number. You are supposed to call that to report any and everything, not just emergencies. I know this because I once called the listed 10 digit phone number for my local precinct to report a loud party, and was instructed to dial 911. I subsequently had a conversation with a sargent at a community policing event, and he confirmed that it is not just for emergencies, but all reports.
I do not live in Boston but we everyone around them seems to copy what they do... I always feel bad calling 911 and honestly do not call the police and know others who refrain from calling the police for things like this because we still feel funny about dialing 911 because someone is blocking my driveway.
Maybe we need a new number. I know my phone has 611 for phone related calls, there is 911 and of course some places have 311. 411 is taken for information. Anything out there use 111, 211, 511, 711 or 811 already?
In the 1970s and 1980s, "211" was credit for misdialed numbers or disconnected calls - at least in New York (NYNEX), and I think in Virginia (Bell Atlantic) too. When did it get repurposed?
Thanks, Bandit. "311: Assigned nationwide for non-emergency police and other government services"
But not in Menino-ville, oh no, we have a special number, so it can be called the "Mayor's 24 Hour Constituent Service" line. They're waiting for your call; just dial... um... where IS that number? Ok wait, I'll Google it... here we go, 617-635-4500. (I thought I had that memorized, but I kept getting Gianni's Pizzeria.)
Speaking of memories, haven't we had this conversation before? Like for years? I love how Boston's all about tradition!
EVERY TIME there's a mention of calling the police and/or 911, some person who clearly doesn't live in Boston posts that you shouldn't call 911 unless it's an emergency, and then someone comes along and corrects them and explains that Boston asks that you call 911 any time you need to contact the police so that the system is streamlined.
We should just have a FAQ. Maybe you could make it so that "police" and "911" are automatically hyperlinked, using one of those glossary scripts you can put on webpages.
Comments
Emergency?
Why was this an emergency worthy of a 911 call? Was the guy stuck in the tree?
In Boston, 911 is the
In Boston, 911 is the defacto police number. You are supposed to call that to report any and everything, not just emergencies. I know this because I once called the listed 10 digit phone number for my local precinct to report a loud party, and was instructed to dial 911. I subsequently had a conversation with a sargent at a community policing event, and he confirmed that it is not just for emergencies, but all reports.
I do not live in Boston but
I do not live in Boston but we everyone around them seems to copy what they do... I always feel bad calling 911 and honestly do not call the police and know others who refrain from calling the police for things like this because we still feel funny about dialing 911 because someone is blocking my driveway.
Maybe we need a new number. I know my phone has 611 for phone related calls, there is 911 and of course some places have 311. 411 is taken for information. Anything out there use 111, 211, 511, 711 or 811 already?
211 is a social services
211 is a social services referral number. See http://www.mass211.org/ for more on that.
these are called N11 code assignments
and most are assigned by the FCC. you can see a list of them here.
211 changed?
In the 1970s and 1980s, "211" was credit for misdialed numbers or disconnected calls - at least in New York (NYNEX), and I think in Virginia (Bell Atlantic) too. When did it get repurposed?
311: ...non-emergency police...
Thanks, Bandit. "311: Assigned nationwide for non-emergency police and other government services"
But not in Menino-ville, oh no, we have a special number, so it can be called the "Mayor's 24 Hour Constituent Service" line. They're waiting for your call; just dial... um... where IS that number? Ok wait, I'll Google it... here we go, 617-635-4500. (I thought I had that memorized, but I kept getting Gianni's Pizzeria.)
Speaking of memories, haven't we had this conversation before? Like for years? I love how Boston's all about tradition!
UH needs a FAQ
EVERY TIME there's a mention of calling the police and/or 911, some person who clearly doesn't live in Boston posts that you shouldn't call 911 unless it's an emergency, and then someone comes along and corrects them and explains that Boston asks that you call 911 any time you need to contact the police so that the system is streamlined.
We should just have a FAQ. Maybe you could make it so that "police" and "911" are automatically hyperlinked, using one of those glossary scripts you can put on webpages.
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http://1smootshort.blogspot.com
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Getting back to our regularly-scheduled snark
From the 911 call:
Would like a unit to respond.
It's going to be lame porn if they can't get a unit to respond.
Naked man sitting in a tank full of lobsters
They have an interesting way of settling bets in Gloucester.