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1. Who answers 911 calls?

Professionally trained dispatchers from Hamilton County answer all 911 calls whether it is a wired or cellular telephone. Should the call require contact with another agency, we will transfer your call to the proper agency. If you are on or near the border with another county there is a chance your call will be answered by another agency. Please explain your location and you will be transferred to us.

2. What should I do if I accidentally call 911?

Do not hang up. Allow the dispatcher to answer and explain that it was an accidental call. We are obligated to call back and confirm there was no emergency. If we are unable to contact the caller, but have an accurate location, law enforcement will respond.

3. When should I call 911?

There are many good reasons to use 911: for emergencies; you are unsure about your location; you do not know the non-emergency number; or you are in doubt if an incident is an emergency.

4. What type of information should I give to 911?

Every call is different. Simply follow the questions the dispatcher asks. Be ready to provide: where you are; what happened; who is involved; and how and why it happened. Other specific questions could be asked such as weapons involved, vehicles involved and direction of travel, if they left the scene, descriptions of people involved, etc. The most important thing in these situations is to remain calm and clear to the dispatcher so he or she can send you the help you need.

5. If I call 911 on a cellular telephone, will I be found?

Most cellular telephones made after 2006 have GPS locating technology built into them. If conditions are good, we will get a location within a few yards of your location. Being indoors, in a densely forested area, or on the edge of a reception area will affect accuracy of the locating system.

6. If it is not an emergency, should I call 911?

If you need law enforcement, fire or EMS, call 911. If you are calling for administrative staff or follow-up to an emergency call, you should use the non-emergency number- 317-773-1282.

7. Can I talk to the Police Chief or Sheriff if I call 911?

No, you must use the non-emergency numbers to contact any administrative staff.

8. If someone is knocking on my door asking to call the police, must I let them in?

If you feel there could be imminent danger to yourself, you should not allow the person in, but call 911 immediately and let us know what is occurring. If you do provide shelter to someone while waiting for emergency services, be sure to let the dispatcher know where the incident is occurring and where we can find the victim.

9. Is it true that I can call 911 from any disconnected wireless telephone?

For most providers, that is true. We recommends that you do not give old phones to children as toys. If the batteries are charged, the phone will call 911 if it receives a signal the phone company does not recognize. If we can not get verbal confirmation there is not a problem and we do get a valid location on the phone, we will send law enforcement.

10. I have called. Where is the officer?

All calls for law enforcement service are prioritized based on the information provided by the caller. Officers are sent as soon as possible, and generally there is very little delay between the receipt of a call and the dispatching of an officer.

Sometimes, usually due to heavy volume or extreme weather, calls will be prioritized based on the following criteria: "in progress" threat of injury or to life; "in progress" threat to property; threats to life or property that have not occurred; incidents that have occurred but there are no suspects in the area; and other incidents.

11. Will the dispatcher help in medical situations?

Yes, Indiana Law (IC 16-31-3.5-3) requires all Emergency Medical Dispatchers to be certified. Hamilton County dispatchers are trained to provide appropriate pre-arrival instructions to assist in lifesaving efforts prior to the arrival of first responders.

12. I am not happy with the service I received on the phone, what can I do?

The staff of the Communications Center attempts to deal with every call in a courteous manner. Due to the nature of emergency situations, our staff attempts to get the information required to locate you and determine the proper response in as short a time as possible. Some emergencies do require a more assertive approach to gain the information. If you feel that your call was not handled appropriately, you may contact the Director of Operations at 317-776-4321.

13. Can I call 911 if I'm hearing impaired?

Yes, our Communications Center is equipped with TDD/TTY equipment. Communications professionals receive extensive training in handling emergency situations utilizing this special equipment.

14. Can someone call 911 who does not speak English?

Yes, our Communications Center subscribes to a telephone translation service providing access to interpreters who speak more than 170 languages and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergency communications services with non-English speaking callers.