[quote=njtosd]
2. Who said police were delayed or that the girls didn’t call right away? There is an ongoing problem of slow response, btw.[/quote] Where was this? In San Diego, I know how to get about 5min response on non-critical – much less if critical.

Sorry, just noticed – Carmel Valley… did they go through 911? That path is slow (can be over 15 min just to get on). The technique I use is to know the dispatch numbers (programmed into phone – they are regional). When I call, I have already planned what I am going to say – the people @ dispatch are really busy and are in no mood for ‘discussions’ or extracting info from a confused person.

Soon as I get an answer:
My Name, phone number. – they don’t have access to the GPRS data that 911 has.
Location – as detailed as possible. If not sure where, but have a smart phone – get the GPS position within 4 to 5 digits past the decimal point before you call. That is accurate to within 30 feet. If you have a dumb phone and are ‘lost’ – call 911, not dispatch. They can get GPS from the GPRS data stream provided by the phone on a 911 call.
Nature of problem – Be accurate, no drama.
What I feel is needed and one sentence of why.
NOTE: I must also repeat – when talking to dispatch – No Drama. They don’t have time for it.

Sometimes it ends there, sometimes they have additional questions… but the whole conversation is very short. I think the longest was just over 1 minute. I think I have had to do this about 3 or 4 times. Shortest response near Mira Mesa was about 3 min, longest was just over 10 (Officer got a little lost).

I know that you are ‘supposed’ to use 911 for emergencies instead of Dispatch – however, I have found Dispatch to be much quicker, and they can cross call to Fire and Ambulance. Just remember – you are talking to a Police Officer, not a Social Worker. No Drama, No Exaggerations, Nothing But the Facts(Dragnet).