Public Inquiry [Citizen]

[Herrman Wolff]

1. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Full Name: Herrman Wolff
  Phone Number: 298-4429
  E-Mail Address: [email protected]
  Position in Institution (If Applicable): N/A

2. REQUEST INFORMATION

• Detailed information of your request:
  • Dear Sir/Madam,
    
    I am seeking further clarification on the use of non emergency 911 calls and how they are juxtaposed against GC05.
    
    In a recent Public Inquiry answer, Chief Blake stated that "it is advised to inform law enforcement of these activities if they are near populated areas or roads through a non-emergency 911 call so as to avoid peace officers in surrounding areas considering the shots fired"
    
    The use of 911 for any non-emergancy call has, in the past, caused many individuals to receive a verbal warning or even been ticked with GC05. This cohort includes myself who received a verbal warning for once calling 911 to state that an officer had left his car unlocked and people were searching the trunk since this was "considered to be not an emergency".
    
    The wording of GC05 also explicitly states that "or improperly uses a government hotline that is intended for emergency assistance, for non-emergency-related situations." Which clearly outlines that any individual who does call 911 to relay such non emergency information is liable to be issued a citation.
    
    What is the current proper course of action given the LSPDs history, as well as the word of law, are both going against the advice issued by Chief Blake. Depending on the proper course of action, could individuals also call 911 to tell officers that a gun range is hot since there is now a requirement to inform officers but for the same reasons outlined, it would be illegal to do so via a 911 call.

[Elena Flores]

Los Santos Police Department "TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE"

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• Re: Public Inquiry [Citizen]
  
  If a person calls 911 to inform police of something that is relevant to law enforcement and specifies, at the beginning of the call, that it is a non-emergency, then they will be fine; if a person, for example, calls 911 to inform police of individuals at the impound and specifies that it is a non-emergency, then they may be provided a verbal warning or citation because there is already a notification system in place that alerts law enforcement of their presence through a buzzer.
  
  As stated in the response to the public inquiry referenced in this inquiry, a non-emergency 911 call to inform police that hunting or firing practice is taking place in or close to a populated area or road will be fine. If you have questions about the "word of law" surrounding GC05, then I recommend you inquire with either the state government or the judicial branch. The caveat will be in the definition of "improperly uses", where I do not find that informing law enforcement of active gunshots being non-hostile is an improper use.
  
  To summarize, there are a lot of individuals who attempt to circumvent any repercussions by designating a 911 call as "non-emergency", so I cannot give you a clear, concise definition or answer that is broad and all-encompassing, however, the examples you have provided in this case, such as the firing range and the referenced inquiry, are fine.

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• Respectfully,
  
  Chief of Police Elena Flores
  Los Santos Police Department