About Calling 911

When should I call 911?

Call 911 anytime there is an actual emergency and a response is required by law enforcement, fire personnel, or emergency medical personnel. Examples include:

  • A crime in progress
  • A medical emergency
  • A vehicle accident
  • A fire
  • Any immediate threat to life or property

If you need help, but its not an emergency...

If you are not in need of emergency personnel, please do not call 911. Calling 911 when there is not an emergency ties up the 911 phone lines, causing other 911 calls to be delayed. 

If you are not experiencing an emergency, but wish to speak with Port Angeles Police Department personnel, please call our non-emergency phone number at 360-452-4545.  Some examples for when you should call our non-emergency line instead of dialing 911 are:

  • Reporting an outage of a utility, such as water and electricity - unless this was CAUSED by an emergency, such as a vehicle accident
  • A crime that is not in progress, such as a theft or harassment that occurred an hour or a few days ago
  • To ask for the "non-emergency" number or for directions - you can call 411 for assistance
  • Any barking dogs or other non-vicious animal complaints
  • If you are inquiring about a current situation or incident

What to do when calling 911...

When calling 911 it is important to answer the operators questions. By asking these questions the operator is not delaying any emergency response and is actually helping prepare the emergency responders for your specific emergency. Some example questions that will be asked include:

  • Your location - Address, street/intersection, nearby businesses or landmarks. If you are calling from a cell phone we may not be able to see an accurate location of where you are calling from
  • The nature of the emergency with detailed information about what is occurring and who is involved
  • Your name and telephone number

Try to stay on the line as long as possible. It is very important for the dispatchers to be aware of any changes that may occur on scene. Do not hang up until instructed to do so!

I dialed 911 by mistake...

If you dial 911 by mistake, stay on the line and answer the call takers questions. PenCom gets many "911 Hangup" calls every day and it's our policy to get your information and confirm that there is or is not an emergency.