Dumbest call you've ever been on?

[greg72982]

I think tonight I may have received the dumbest call of my career in four years of small town policing. I mean we get some pretty dumb calls, but this one puts the dog barking calls to shame.

Got called to one of the local 7-11's for a report of a parked dump truck with it's turn signal left on. The clerk was afraid the battery might die. I don't know what's dumber, the call itself or me for actually honoring it and checking the truck out. The doors were locked and there was no phone number on the truck, not that I'd be able to get ahold of the business owner anyway.

So to the LEO's...what's yours? I think this thread will help those prospectives who think our job is like a COPS episode all the time.

[retdetsgt]

I got a call one night at 1 a.m. to assist an elderly woman. I got there and she wanted me to heat up some soup for her. She couldn't get her stove burner turned on.

I think one of the wimmin in dispatch hated me.

Another night I got a call on a prowler. I got there and heard a weird noise coming from a small outbuilding that was from a boiler of some kind. This woman had a swimming pool (only one in the whole neighborhood) and something was the matter with the heating system. She wanted me to fix it for her.

I told her I was too poor to own a swimming pool, but I managed to find the electrical shutoff valve. The woman was really pissed that I refused to even look at it for her. She called the precinct and complained to a Sgt. who told her he was too poor to own a pool also.

[RockemSockem]

I think tonight I may have received the dumbest call of my career in four years of small town policing. I mean we get some pretty dumb calls, but this one puts the dog barking calls to shame.

Got called to one of the local 7-11's for a report of a parked dump truck with it's turn signal left on. The clerk was afraid the battery might die. I don't know what's dumber, the call itself or me for actually honoring it and checking the truck out. The doors were locked and there was no phone number on the truck, not that I'd be able to get ahold of the business owner anyway.

So to the LEO's...what's yours? I think this thread will help those prospectives who think our job is like a COPS episode all the time.

What's with your dispatchers? That call should have never made it past them.

[retdetsgt]

What's with your dispatchers? That call should have never made it past them.

Here it would depend on what the complainant told them on the phone. A suspicious garbage truck left unattended for a long time would probably get someone sent here. Not if the only concern was that the battery might run down though. But it wouldn't be unreasonable to be sent to check to see if the driver was unconscious on the floor of the truck or something.

[TheDonna]

On a ridealong I went on there was a call out because a man was complaining that his neighbor was throwing grass in his yard and he wanted to know if he could take legal action.
I found that pretty frickin dumb

[Darin]

1) Man and his girlfriend ( I use the term GIRLfriend loosely) were arguing. She said President Bush was stupid...so he called the police.

2) Man called because he couldn't use the phone. Yes...he CALLED 911. So I get there and he said he couldn't find his sisters number and that's why he called.

[Safety Steve]

1) Man and his girlfriend ( I use the term GIRLfriend loosely) were arguing. She said President Bush was stupid...so he called the police.

2) Man called because he couldn't use the phone. Yes...he CALLED 911. So I get there and he said he couldn't find his sisters number and that's why he called.

LOL, thats good as well as the others above. I have always said that the human species is the dumbest species on earth! We complicate everything.



Be Safe.

[greg72982]

What's with your dispatchers? That call should have never made it past them.

It's county 911. They have to give us everything. We can blow it off if we want, but they still have to give it to us.

On a ridealong I went on there was a call out because a man was complaining that his neighbor was throwing grass in his yard and he wanted to know if he could take legal action.
I found that pretty frickin dumb

That actually reminds me, I may have a tie. At an old job one neighbor called because his next door neighbor's leaves which he just raked into a pile were blowing into his yard. That one may go to number two since there were serious underlying issues between the two and they used us to get at one another. I did nothing and he bitched to the Mayor, who really didn't care.

[retdetsgt]

It's county 911. They have to give us everything. We can blow it off if we want, but they still have to give it to us.

Our dispatch is run by the county here now too. But they do a pretty good job of screening calls, I have to admit. For one thing, they don't want to tie up cars on goofy calls and then have something big come in.

Also, even though the county runs it, each department has a say in what kind of calls their people are sent on. Something comes out really dumb and a Sgt. will get on the air, cancel the call and probably phone the dispatcher. That's part of his job.

Back when I got the soup call, we had a new mayor who announced that the police would respond any time the citizens needed help. I think they were sending us on those to make a point to the dumb****. That practice ended not long afterwards.

[Chris-]

2) Man called because he couldn't use the phone. Yes...he CALLED 911. So I get there and he said he couldn't find his sisters number and that's why he called.

This would freak me out a little. Ive seen people like this (im picturing the most recent one, mid 40's, poor hygiene...just in general looked a little "off") and they give me the creeps. Like they dont know whats up or down, wrong or right. Were you on edge at all around that person?

[mcsap]

911 call to change a smoke detector battery.

911 call(s) because their kid won't get out of bed and go to school.

911 call to ask what time trick-or-treat starts , also when the next big trash pickup is.

Our dispatch center MUST dispatch ALL calls , they cannot ignore them. WE can ignore them.

[retdetsgt]

Our dispatch center MUST dispatch ALL calls , they cannot ignore them. WE can ignore them.

We can't ignore them. A Sgt or higher has to intervene. Like most police rules, I'm positive that there's a reason for it. I don't know for sure, but remembering some of the surly old guys working when I first came on, I suspect at least one refused a call they shouldn't have. From at least 1970, we have to respond to any dispatched call unless called off by a superior officer.

But again, our dispatch does a pretty good job of triaging the calls.

[kels]

One of my favorites, caller complains that someone left a Road Grader running.
It is parked inside the city limits. However the city is busy, so I tell the dispatcher
I will take care of it.
Upon arrival, it is definately running. The reason the caller complained is that it is
keeping him awake. It is now approx 2300 hours.
Here comes the good part. It had been running since approx 1700 hours. He didnt call
then because he had the tv turned up and it wasnt bothering him then.
DUH

[kels]

Or you call 911 to report your car is stolen.
Turns out, you and the missus had a little arguement
and she left.
We run the tag and guess what, its her car. Not his.
And no, we cant make her come home.......

[cntryboy0531]

Got a 911 call stating a 6 year old won't go to school. Wanted the police to come by and make him or take him. I responded, complaint from reportee was soon phoned into the supervisor.....

My response was "Be a parent, make him go" and left.