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Frequently Asked Questions about 9-1-1

If I dial 9-1-1 from my home in Lincolnwood, am I talking to the Lincolnwood Police Department?

Yes, the Lincolnwood Police Department Communications Section answers your call. We will determine if you need police, fire or medical assistance.   If you need police assistance, we will handle your call.  If you need fire or medical assistance we will transfer your call to the Red Center in Northbrook, Illinois.  Red Center dispatches the Lincolnwood Fire Department.  It is important to let us know at the beginning of the conversation what type of assistance that you need.

If I misdial 9-1-1, what should I do?

Stay on the phone. Even if you hang up prior to us answering the phone, the call will go through and register as a 9-1-1 call. As long as you stay on the phone and tell us that you have misdialed the only thing that will happen is that the call taker or dispatcher will verify your phone information, such as the number, your name, and your address. If you hang up, the call taker or dispatcher will call you back and send an officer to your location.

When I call 9-1-1, why am I sometimes told to call back on a non-emergency line?

9-1-1 is for emergency calls only. An emergency call is one where there is a potential threat to life. Sometimes people will call 9-1-1 to ask a question or to report a non-emergency situation. We do not want to tie up emergency 911 lines with non-emergency calls, so we ask that you call our non-emergency phone number at 847-673-2167

Why does it take so long for an Officer to arrive?

Calls for service received by the Communications Section are prioritized based on several factors. Emergency Call Takers and Dispatchers will use answers to the questions they ask to prioritize the call. For example, a motor vehicle accident with injuries would have a higher priority than a theft that is not in progress. Calls with higher priorities are dispatched before lower priority calls.

Why is the dispatcher or call taker asking me so many questions and not sending an officer?

Police dispatchers and emergency call takers are trained to ask questions. It is their responsibility to obtain enough information to determine the priority of the call, and to assist responding officers.  On in progress calls, the call taker or dispatcher will routinely remain on the phone while police officers respond.