Reasons NOT to Call 9-1-1

Abingdon Police Department

For Immediate Release

In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, we wish to acknowledge the outstanding work of the employees of Washington County Central Dispatch.  They truly are our lifeline.  In honor of the tireless, and thankless, work that they perform, we have compiled the following list of reasons NOT to call 9-1-1. While this is not an exhaustive list, every one of these is real... 

Please do not call 9-1-1:

•        when your order is wrong at your favorite fast food restaurant

•        to report a power outage

•        to find out if someone has been arrested or is in jail - the local jail number is 276-739-3520

•        to obtain general information, hours of a business operations, or a phone number

•        because your neighbors grass/leaves are blowing in to your yard

•        to ask why there is a police officer or ambulance at your neighbor’s house

•        to find out about the weather forecast

•        to ask about road conditions

•        because you think the officer who responded to your house is cute and you want to see him/her again

•        to check for school closing announcements

•        to ask for directions

·         to ask about paying a ticket 

·         because you are locked IN your car

·         to inquire why your favorite restaurant is closed

·         to ask the dispatcher to call your number because you lost your cell phone...you are probably talking on it

·         to report that the Wi-Fi at a local establishment is not working

·         because someone parked in your parking space

·         to complain that your pizza is not fresh or cold upon delivery

·         to ask if it is holiday

·         to seek help finding lost glasses

·         because your child/children will not get dressed for, or go to, school

·         to report that your internet is not working at home

·         to complain about a bad haircut or color

·         to report a car refusing to move forward at a gas station pump

·         because you need to know the correct time and/or date to ask if there is a warrant out for your arrest

·         to complain about the driver in the next lane who is driving with an eye patch covering one eye

·         when your husband/children will not eat their dinner

·         because you feel that time is moving very slowly, or you are reporting that you are dead