Posted: 17 Oct 14
Update #1: 19 Oct 14 -- added police website FAQ-link, textual amplifiers
Update #1: 19 Oct 14 -- added police website FAQ-link, textual amplifiers
Civic Mentor Bulletin
Civic-Procedure / Making Police Service Requests / Pittsburg, CA
WHEN AND HOW TO NOTIFY THE
PITTSBURG, CA POLICE
PITTSBURG, CA POLICE
1. PURPOSES OF THIS BULLETIN
1.1 This bulletin is designed to serve the specific civic-mentoring needs of the People of Pittsburg, CA -- in one particular area of police-relations -- and has been approved for publication by the Chief of Police.
Specifically, this explains how the police view calls for service, how citizens should view making calls, seven ways to notify the police, and recommends that each household set up a "Household Procedures Binder" for ready access to this information and future such materials disseminated from here and elsewhere.
- To help remove confusion as to how and when residents and others might approach triggering a police action.
- To help inform and trigger forethought -- so that a resident will have at least one less thing to have to figure out -- in the heat of an emergency. This will be one decision-set that should have been made beforehand.
Thoughtful preparedness is at the essence of good and effective citizenship.
2.1 HESITATING TO CALL: The police encourage us to report ANYTHING out of the ordinary -- and they NEED us to do this -- and EXPECT us to do this. (It's built-into our implicit "Partnership Contract" with them)
The moment we even ask ourselves, "should I call the police on this?" MIGHT JUST BE the time to call. You’ll have to judge, but please don't hesitate, simply because you don’t want to inconvenience the police -- this is a crucial aspect of their chosen profession -- and things can get out of control, quickly.
2.2 WHY ARE WE SO STRONGLY-URGED TO CALL, RATHER THAN NOT?
Because it helps the police do a far better job by working:
2.3 PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE POLICE RESPOND ACCORDING TO A PRIORITY SYSTEM
Because it helps the police do a far better job by working:
- To help them get to know us and understand our circumstances, as individuals and in our various groupings and common territory – always an advantage to intelligent, responsive police work.
- To help them maintain at least an approximately accurate feel for what's going on – so they are not caught by surprise.
- To possibly provide them with "missing pieces" of some puzzle they are attempting to solve for us.
- To help us get to know them better and learn useful things from them.
- To further deepen mutual trust and cordiality between the police and the population – so each can serve the other, better and better.
- To accumulate useful statistical information to help police manage the police function – and to enable residents to use this knowledge to contribute more constructively -- while helping the police to justify needful funding increases.
- BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS "FREEDOM-TO-CALL" GIVES US MORE OF THE PEACE OF MIND AND SECURITY TO WHICH WE ARE ENTITLED.
First things first. More urgent calls receive priority. Lesser calls wait in line. As more citizens call on a case, this tends to raise the priority of the case. But, all calls will be addressed as soon as possible.
Tip: It wouldn't be a bad idea to memorize something so important:
- 911 -- Emergencies, of course, 24/7
- 252-4980 -- Non-Emergency -- when you still need to summon an officer (but in not as big a rush) or to report/inquire (during business hours, Mon-Fri)
- 646-2441 -- Dispatch -- another way to get an officer or make a report, 24/7
- 427-7369 -- Police Tip Line -- to give info for ongoing (or cold) investigations or location of fugitives being pursued (automated, 24/7, anonymously or open).
- Flag-down a patrolling officer or visit the police headquarters at the City Center.
- Here is a link to the "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)" on the City website.
- Here is a link to the Police Facebook page (with limited 2-way capability)
RESIDENTS SHOULD DELIBERATELY ADOPT AND TEACH THIS "POLICE-CALLING STRATEGY" as an integral part of household security plans. Insure that all members of the household (and neighborhood and/or business) are familiar with this information.Put our worries and concerns on the record and push them into the willing and capable hands of the police -- BUT DO NOT PLACE YOUR OWN LIVES AT RISK (if it can be avoided).
5. RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION OF THIS BULLETIN
RESIDENTS SHOULD DELIBERATELY ADOPT AND TEACH THIS "POLICE-CALLING STRATEGY" as an integral part of household security plans. Insure that all members of the household (and neighborhood and/or business) are familiar with this information.
Put our worries and concerns on the record and push them into the willing and capable hands of the police -- BUT DO NOT PLACE YOUR OWN LIVES AT RISK (if it can be avoided).
Residents might print-out this bulletin (right-click this page and chose the "print" option) and keep it in easy reach, for example, within a 3-ring "Household Procedures Binder." The Civic Mentor process is expected to issue many practical future bulletins for inclusion in such a personal reference tool -- in addition to others things you might add.
The above printing suggestion is admittedly crude, for now. As soon as feasible, a more refined printing capability will be developed to give you the higher-quality outputs you deserve.
The above printing suggestion is admittedly crude, for now. As soon as feasible, a more refined printing capability will be developed to give you the higher-quality outputs you deserve.
Here's to much better-prepared and safer residents, neighborhoods, and City-at-Large
David Nelson
All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved. BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along -- and are urged to do so -- as long as it's all done free of charge, unchanged, you include this statement, AND you inform me as to how it is being used -- at YOUR convenience but, hopefully soonest.
