This January as part of the “A Safer Naper” campaign, we are focusing on the different ways to contact the police department. A way that most are familiar with is calling 9-1-1.
In an emergency, every second counts. Whether you’re calling 9‑1‑1 for police, fire or medical assistance, or to report a crime in progress that threatens someone’s life, health, safety or property, being an informed caller helps telecommunicators respond faster and more effectively.
If you’re uncertain whether your situation qualifies as an emergency, it’s always safest to call 9‑1‑1 and let trained telecommunicators determine the appropriate response. They are experts at assessing and prioritizing calls.
When you contact 9‑1‑1, you become the telecommunicators’ eyes and ears. Stay as calm as possible and listen carefully. Telecommunicators are trained to ask specific questions to ensure the appropriate response is sent and critical information is provided to responders. Asking these questions does not delay the call being dispatched.
Your location is the most critical piece of information you can provide. Pay attention to your surroundings and share details such as nearby landmarks, cross streets, building names, floor numbers, or apartment units. If you’re unsure of your address, look for signs, intersections, or other identifying markers that can guide responders to you.
You can reach 9‑1‑1 from most devices that can make calls, including cell phones, landlines, and VoIP systems. However, the accuracy of your callback and location information depends on the type of device used. When calling from a cellphone, telecommunicators receive the phone number and an approximate GPS location, but not an exact address. Using a VoIP phone? Make sure your address is current.
With many households eliminating traditional landlines (and AT&T phasing out land lines in 2027), emergency services rely increasingly on cellular and internet-based calls. This makes providing your location clearly more important than ever when calling 9‑1‑1.
Naperville’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) also accepts emergency texts to 9‑1‑1 for those who need help but can’t speak. Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile users within Naperville can text their location and emergency details to 9‑1‑1 to reach a telecommunicator. It is still preferred that citizens make a voice call to 9-1-1 whenever possible as it is faster and more reliable.
To learn more about all the different ways to contact the Naperville Police Department, including the department’s online reporting system and reasons to call the non-emergency number of (630) 420-6666, visit www.naperville.il.us/ASaferNaper.
Until next month… Stay Aware & Stay Safe.
