How You Can Help Us- Be a proactive citizen
 
The Mayor and Chief of Police recognizes that the citizens are an additional set of ears and eyes throughout the community.  Your assistance in accurately reporting a crime in progress, suspicious activity or an accident is appreciated.

The following checklists will assist you in giving the 911 operator the most accurate and potentially life-saving information possible.

The 911 operator may ask for you to hold on the line with them while they are directing the police officer to the incident location.

• Stay calm and Do not hang up on the 911 operator

• Do not allow children to play on the phone

Reporting a crime in progress, suspicious activity or an accident

Have the following detailed information ready to pass on to the 911 operator as it pertains to a crime in progress or suspicious activity (where, what, who, how):

• Exact location of incident

• Type of incident

• Number of suspects

• Whether they are armed or not

• Is the crime still in progress

• Direction of travel if fled the scene

• If there are injuries

• If children are involved

Description of suspects -

Sex, race, age range, height, weight, hair color, hair cut, kind of clothing (include hats, coats, shoes), type of jewelry, eye color, voice (include accent, loud or soft, speech problem), unusual markings (include scars, moles, tattoos, birthmarks)

Description of vehicles -

License tag number, state, make (Ford, Honda, etc.), model (Taurus, Civic, etc.), color, year, body style (2 door, 4 door) and identifying features (decals, faded paint, dents, etc.)

Non-emergencies

Perhaps the incident is not life threatening, such as your neighbor is having a party with loud music at 3:00 am or an abandoned vehicle has been parked across the street from your house for several days.

When non life-threatening incidents occur, call the City of Mansfield’s non-emergency number at (318) 872-0520.

Have the following detailed information ready to pass on to the 911 operator as it pertains to an accident (where, what, who, how):

• Exact location of incident

• If there are injuries

• Number of vehicles

Remember, whether the incident is life threatening or non-life threatening it is important to be as detailed as possible.

A 911 operator is the life-line for the citizen as well as for the police officer who is in route to handle the situation.