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When to Call 9-1-1

9-1-1 is for police, fire and medical emergencies

Call 9-1-1 if:

There a danger to life or property, or hazard to the environment
A crime is in progress or happened within the last 5-10 minutes
Medical emergencies
Fire

You can also dial 925-935-6400 for urgent situations that are not life-threatening emergencies.

Non-emergencies

To report issues that do not require immediate assistance, call our non-emergency phone number 925-943-5844 and press 2.

Examples of non-emergency calls

Noise disturbances
Barking dogs
Loitering
Thefts or burglaries that are not in progress
Cold crimes

You can also report some types of non-emergency police online.

About

Our Communications Center is often the first point of contact for people in need of public safety services. Our dispatchers are true first responders. They multitask and navigate:

About 20 software programs
Multiple phone lines
Emergency radio traffic

We typically process over 100,000 phone calls per year. Over 99% of 911 calls are answered in less than 15 seconds, exceeding national standards.

What questions will the 9-1-1 operator ask?

What happens if I accidentally call 9-1-1?

Can I make a report online?

How long will it take for officers to respond?

Why were officers diverted while responding to my call?

How are police calls processed?

I live in Walnut Creek. Why am I being referred to the Sheriff's department?

Are there any problems with using cell phones to call 9-1-1?

Are there any problems with using VOIP to call 9-1-1?

When you are calling using VOIP service, often calls can be mis-routed or provide the wrong address information to the 9-1-1 operator.

If you are a VOIP user, here are some things you can do:

If you call 9-1-1, stay on the line and clearly provide your exact location to the 9-1-1 operator. Don’t rely on automated information.
Install a landline telephone in your house (with minimal services) so you can call 9-1-1 from it. This also helps during power or internet outages.
Know the 9-1-1 capabilities of your VOIP provider. Register your account with the physical location where the phone will be used so it can be entered into the local 9-1-1 system.
Test your VOIP through your local 9-1-1 center. Before you test, call us at (925) 943-5844 to make sure it is a good time to try a test.
Make sure you update your address information when you move.
Keep your family informed of the limitations of VOIP.