When to Call 911

911 is for police, fire or medical emergencies when immediate action is required: someone’s health, safety or property is in jeopardy or a crime is in progress.

If you are unsure if your situation is an emergency, dial 911. Emergency call takers will help determine if immediate action is required or if you should hang up and dial the non-emergency line.

Examples of when to call 911

• Events that involve an immediate threat to a person or property: screams for help (domestic dispute), attacks, gunshots,  fires and/or smoke, hazardous goods incidents, downed power lines, car accidents with injuries or any other medical emergency that is a threat to life or health
• An in-progress crime such as theft, break and enter or vandalism (if there is a suspect on scene) or to report an impaired driver
• A serious crime that has just occurred (sexual or other assault, robbery, child abduction)
• A suspicious circumstance that may indicate an imminent criminal act (prowler, suspicious person, vandal)

Examples of non-emergency calls

• Reporting a crime with no suspect (example: theft of a licence plate or bicycle)
• Reporting a crime with suspect, but the suspect is not on the scene (example: fraud)
• Reporting a serious crime with suspect, but with a lengthy delay (example: assault that occurred last night at a bar)
• Non-emergency in progress (example: noisy party)
• Ongoing crime issues or crimes that are not in progress (examples: graffiti or ongoing drug dealing with no suspect on scene)
• A suspicious circumstance that may indicate an ongoing criminal activity (example: suspected drug lab)