THE 911 SYSTEM

Know the difference...

 

9-1-1 = Emergency

  • Crimes In Progress
  • Vehicle Crashes (Injuries or Fatal)
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Fires
  • Electrical Lines Down
  • Chemical/Gas Leak or Spill
  • Any situation where a person is in immediate danger and could be injured or killed

 

419-884-1032 = Non-Emergency

  • Crimes Not In Progress
  • Non-Injury Vehicle Crashes
  • Reporting Adverse Weather Conditions
  • Barking Dogs
  • Loud Music, Parties, Etc.
  • Parking/Traffic Violations
  • Follow-Up On Previous Calls
  • Police Report Requests
  • Police Investigation Status

 

When you call 9-1-1, your call is routed to the Richland County 9-1-1 call center. 

The dispatcher there will determine the nature of your call.  If you are in need of police services and are within the Village of Lexington, your call will be routed to our local dispatcher.  If you are in need of fire or medical services, your call will be handled by Richland County 9-1-1.

 

Be aware that if you are in need of both Police and Medical/Fire services (i.e. auto accident, fight, etc) you should dial 9-1-1 and request medical services first.  All of our officers and our communications center monitor the County 9-1-1 channel and will respond when appropriate to medical/fire calls where a police officer may be needed.  The 9-1-1 call center will also confirm our response with our Dispatcher via telephone so you are assured to get the help you need.

 

When speaking with any Dispatcher, there are a few things you should keep in mind to assist us in getting help to you in a timely manner:

ü      Stay calm and remain on the line until it becomes unsafe to do so or the Dispatcher advises you to hang up

ü      Promptly state what type of emergency you are calling about (fire, auto accident, etc)

ü      Give your name and the exact location including house/apartment numbers or an intersection of two streets

ü      Names and descriptions of people involved, if applicable

ü      Descriptions of vehicles, if applicable

ü      Any injuries to you or other parties involved

ü      Any weapons involved and the type and number of weapons (i.e. guns, knives, etc)

 

9-1-1 Hang-ups/Accidental

 

If you accidentally dial 9-1-1, DO NOT hang up.  Stay on the line and advise the Dispatcher that it was accidental in nature.  It is the policy of our department to respond to all 9-1-1 hang-up calls.  If you accidentally dial and hang up before speaking with someone, expect an officer to knock at your door.

 

Calling 9-1-1 From a Cell Phone

 

When you dial 9-1-1 from your cellular phone, your call may be routed to one of several area call centers.  In most of Richland County, your call will be routed to the County 9-1-1 call center.  On the outskirts of the county, your call may be routed to another agency depending on where the tower you are closest to routes the call.  When calling from your cellular phone, follow these general rules:

  • Promptly state which agency you are trying to reach (i.e. Lexington Police, etc)
  • If you are unsure, advise the Dispatcher where you are calling from
  • Your call will then be routed to the appropriate agency

 

Under FCC mandates, the cellular telephone industry is developing and will implement technology that will allow cellular towers to "triangulate" your position so your call is routed properly, however this technology is several years away from being implemented.  Please try to give the best description of your location possible to assist us in finding you.

 

Help Us Find You Faster

 

All structures within the Village are required to have visible address numbers.  Keep in mind it is difficult to find address numbers on houses at night.  To help us find you in an emergency, consider some of these tips:

v     Purchase an address sign.  The most common are white numbers on a green background.  These are very easy to see, especially at night.

v     If you have a mailbox by the street, put your house number on both sides.  Don't use gold, silver or other shiny colors as our lights reflect off of these which distort them at night.

v     If you do not have a mailbox by the street, post black numbers with a white/light colored background (at least 4" tall) to the immediate left or right of your front door and above your garage door.

v     When calling, give the closest landmark or cross street so we don't lose valuable time looking for your house at the wrong end of the street.

 

Keep in mind we want to find you as quickly as possible, but it is impossible to know where each address is located.  By clearly posting your house numbers, we will be able to find you much faster.  It is especially difficult to find houses at night due to poor lighting conditions.  Help us find you in an emergency and post clear numbers!