Plausible? 911 dispatcher response to shots fired

[l8bloom]

Hello,

I'm writing a story in which characters witness gunfire and call 911. What does the dispatcher typically say? How is s/he likely to respond? Please factually correct me if you have direct experience in this area. Here 'tis.

Stan remained calm. He shepherded the three teenagers out of the restaurant. In the parking lot, he asked Craig, “What’s going on?”

“We have to call 911,” Craig flipped open his phone. “They’ve got a—”

His sentence was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot, then another. A chorus of screams burst from the restaurant.

Stan swore. “SHIT!!” He shoved Allie into the car. David and Craig leapt into the backseat. Stan tore out of the parking lot. “Seat belts!” he snapped.

David twisted around, looking back toward the restaurant. He saw Hank and Jeff run out of the building. One of them fired a parting shot. The two men clambered into a beat-up sedan and took the same exit, right behind the Katz family SUV.

“Nine one one, what is your emergency?” said the clerk in Craig’s ear.

“I’ve just witnessed gunfire at Sgt. Pepper’s.”

“They’re right behind us!” gasped David.

“Any injuries.” The policeman’s voice was crisp and businesslike.

“They’re following us!”

The GPS data from Craig’s phone streamed through the computers. The dispatcher clicked a few keys and repeated his question. Upon learning the negative, he directed them to stay calm. He could see they were already three blocks away from the restaurant.

Many MANY thanks for your time and thought. I greatly appreciate it!

Namasté,

L8.

 

[3113]

"The nature of your emergency" is correct, but after that they're going to start asking for your location, your name.

Also, it won't be a policeman on the line (as you have it there "The policeman's voice..." It'll be a "dispatcher" or "emergency dispatcher" or an "Operator."

Here's a list of what a dispatcher is likely to ask (these are standard for a domestic violence call but for any call they're likely to be similar. The dispatcher will keep the person on the phone unless the person is in danger and needs to get out. They might say, "Help is on the way," as they keep asking these questions to feed to the police):

Where is the emergency? What address? What apartment number?
What has happened?
With whom am I speaking?
Are you the victim? If no, are you a witness?
Has anyone been injured? Is an ambulance needed? What are the injuries?
Who is the suspect?
Describe the suspect.
Is the suspect present?
If the suspect is not present, do you know where he/she may be?
Are weapons involved? If yes, what kind? Where are they located?
Is the suspect under the influence of drugs or alcohol? If yes, what substance?
Are children present?

Obviously, these may be altered depending on what the dispatcher is told. If they're told there's gunfire, they won't ask "Are there weapons involved" instead they'll probably ask, "You say there was gunfire, are they shooting at you? Was anyone shot? Where?" Something like that.

 

[starrkers]

It may be different in the US, but in Australia they ask if you're sure it's gunfire.
They also remain totally calm and reassuring.
They ask if you can see the person shooting. They warn you not to take risks to get them info.

(Yeah, I've made one of those calls - shotgun blast right outside my window at 2am - scared the bejesus outa me).

 

[Weird Harold]

The GPS data from Craig’s phone streamed through the computers. The dispatcher clicked a few keys and repeated his question. Upon learning the negative, he directed them to stay calm. He could see they were already three blocks away from the restaurant.

While many big city 911 systems have the capability to receive GPS from cell phones or to track cell phones by which cell towers they're connecting through, MOST 911 systems do NOT have that capability.

A possible source for some 911 type conversations: check Onstar's website t see if they have any of their radio commercials online -- they include actual recordings of Onstar operators and customers and many include a patch to 911 or "Emergency Services" dispatchers.

 

[l8bloom]

Thank you, everyone, these are important points. I will use all of them.

3113, this is a ton of good stuff. Especially thank you for the catch on who answers 911. I will change it to dispatcher or operator.

Starrkers, Holy http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/images/smilies/cow.gif ! (Or maybe in your case I should say Holy http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/images/smilies/kangaroo.gif! --Seriously, I hope no one was hurt in your experience. And thank you for mentioning the safety warning the dispatcher gives. I will put that in there.

Weird H., thank you also for the catch. That part was my own "I made it up." I hear so much about Big Brother -- perhaps I overestimate him/it. I will scissor that part.

L8.

 

[ima6uldv8]

Being a dispatcher, I should be able to help out a lot. Most bigger cities do have capabilities to find the general area (such as street) of the cell phone caller but not through GPS. It's though their own emergency equipment. Also, people with OnStar in their vehicles can have the police dialed for them. And we're trained to stay calm. How much help could we be to someone in an emergency if we freaked out, as well. It is correct to see if anyone is injured, if the suspects are still there, what kind of vehicle, they're in, etc. If you have any other questions, just let me know.

 

[Weird Harold]

Weird H., thank you also for the catch. That part was my own "I made it up." I hear so much about Big Brother -- perhaps I overestimate him/it. I will scissor that part.

No need to scissor it completely, really. Some 911 systems do read the caller's location from GPS capable phones and/or the cell towers -- as well as caller ID and reverse phone directories for land line addresses (wihich most 911 systems can do now) -- but they do it automatically and without the operator needing to hit any keys to get it. Just don't be so techno-babble about it because as sure as you do gt specific, somebody knowledgeable is going to whack you over the head about it in feedback or PCs.

Thre are a lot of actual 911 calls on the 'Net for various reasons -- news stories, conspiracy blogs, historical records, etc -- both as voice recordings an as transcripts. Google (or your prefered search engine) is your friend in cases like this.

 

[l8bloom]

without the operator needing to hit any keys to get it.

...
because as sure as you do gt specific, somebody knowledgeable is going to whack you over the head about it in feedback or PCs.

Thre are a lot of actual 911 calls on the 'Net for various reasons -- news stories, conspiracy blogs, historical records, etc -- both as voice recordings an as transcripts. Google (or your prefered search engine) is your friend in cases like this.

Still more useful info. http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/images/smilies/detective.gif I thank you again.

Yup, it's the noggin-bumps I'm trying to avoid. http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/images/smilies/nobashing2.gif

Oh! How corny. I'm having waaay too much fun with these silly .

G'night everybody -- & a special thx to Darkiciad & TickledKitty who encouraged me to post my question. Who knew?

~~~L8.

 

[tickledkitty]

I toldja they're the best. They know EVERYTHING.

 

[l8bloom]

I toldja they're the best. They know EVERYTHING.

U da woman, TK.

Sleepy grin.

G'night.