What to say to the 911 operator

[Straight Shooter]

There are a lot of posts about what to say to the police after they respond to a self defense shooting. Most training videos and classes give the same advice.

Basically: Identify yourself, "I was in fear for my life", "I want to speak to a lawyer". I think most would agree with this.

But what do you say to the 911 operator when you're calling for the police? The conversation is being recorded and admissible. You need to convey what just happened so that they send the police and an ambulance. They are also trained to try to get as much information as they can. They will ask questions.

So what do you say?

 

[neverjeg]

Although it was many years ago, I was a 911 operator. It was not my job to begin or conduct an investigation. I wanted to know in the following order…

Where. If the called ended at this point we would have a starting place.

Injuries: If they call ended at this point appropriate care was on the way.

Name of caller and call back number.

Ongoing threat: Was the situation under control? Weapons involved? Who has them? This information is obtained so the officers were not walking in blind. Although this information is useful, just because the caller says there are no weapons doesn’t mean the officers would assume that to be true.

Suspect information and if they have fled description, vehicle, and so on so they could perhaps be caught quickly.

Name of caller and call back number.

As soon as the “where” question was answered officers were already rolling. The rest is just trying to get helpful information. You don’t need to answer anything but providing information helpful to the officers upon arrival is always good.

This may not be entirely by the book, but the point is it was not my job to get a confession just information to prepare the officers.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Listen to a few actual 911 calls and see for yourself how it goes.

A friend was under assault and his 911 call played in court sounded like

gosomeonegetmethepolicerightfriggingnowIvebeenstabb


sir...

Sir..

Whatistakingyousolonggonnableedrigthfrig *Bump. Punch. Thud.

Sir.. Sir...


Dont worry, the words will come to you when you are actually dailing 911 under stress.

The last time I did so I was with the operator on the cell in my 18 wheeler while the debris was still falling from the bad auto wreck around my front (I was not involved but sprouting information in one huge word/sentence while wrestling the rig to a halt running mental first aid numbers in my head.

The 911 folks triangluted me and police was there before I finished stopping.

I think my call went something like this.

I65milemarkersoandsovehiclecrashoccupied2timesIdontknowifanyoneishurtand...

Fortunatley no one was hurt in that car.

Other times you are busy rendering aid to a bleeder or CPR to a casulty who may or may not be dead and there is a forest of Celluar Antennas spouting a variety of words to the 911 center on the interstate.

Most of the time they go several flavors.

Some cry, wail and ask, beg for help, etc.

Others methodically work through with useful information.

And some... well... they are too busy shaking with stress to do much of anything but sit on the line and babble.

Dont worry.

Give 911 just enough information to act. Example...

Myhouseisbeingbrokeninto,wearearmedandneedpolicerightnow! I dontwannahavetoshootimbutwewill.OMG here he COME... *Drops phone and we will either be recording my or our last moments on this earth or recording the fight that will or will not lead to killing.

911 will be all over it.

Dont worry about what to say. The words will come out properly and truthfully. It's the lawyering up and court that is the rough ride after it's all over and they play that tape for all to hear.


Such drama writing about this stuff. I go take a nap now.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Thanks Hungry Seagull,

Sorry about your friend but your description of the call was hilarious!

If it is a crime in progress, I agree, call 911 and give them your location to get someone out there.

What I was asking - perhaps not clearly - is after a defensive shooting, you just shot the BG and you need to call 911. We all agree it would be stupid to ramble to the responding officers. But what do you say to the 911 operator? You could just as easily ramble yourself into trouble with them.

It would seem to me that you need to give the 911 operator more information than you would give to the responding officers. With the officers you could simply hand them your drivers license and not say a single word. With the 911 operator you have to convey why you need the police and an ambulance.

 

[Deanimator]

The last time I called 911 was to report a drunk passed out and unresponsive in the gutter in front of a bar. I gave a calm, clear and detailed description of the situation. The 911 operator I got might as well have been drunk herself. When I told her the victim was in the gutter, she asked me if he was on the ROOF. She then proceeded to ask me more about my contact information than the condition of the guy in the gutter.

No matter how good your cops, firemen or EMTs are, if your 911 is worthless, you might as well be whispering into a hollow log.

 

[Rockwell1]

Operator 911 what’s your emergency?

You: My name is XXX I am calling from XXX. I need to report a shooting at this location. We need police and EMS please.

Operator: Ok sir calm down who was shot?
You: Someone attacked me/ broke into my home/tried to steal my car I was forced to shoot in self-defense. We need police and EMS to this location.

That’s about it if possible have someone meet the Police at the curb

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The above is a good course of action. (With the exception of "tried to steal my car" - it is illegal in most states to shoot in defense of property. Even where legal it will surely not look very good for you.) Don't add anything extraneous like "I didn't want to/mean to shoot him" - even though you actually did - or this "excited utterance" might bite you.

Hopefully, under the stress, you will remember all this.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

If the door burst in and it's all over but the calling 911. I would tell em .. probably quietly throw up in a corner first...

Where, address, what happened and what is needed right now. LEO's Paras etc.

And that's it except for the reloading and waiting in the alamo for any more of them. 911 should know about that part too. Dont leave it out.

By the way the Friend I referred to has put that way behind him and is doing very well. The perp that got him is part of the system in other ways eventually.

 

[Rockwell1]

With the exception of "tried to steal my car" - it is illegal in most states to shoot in defense of property.

Good point, I meant in terms of a car jacking though.

 

[W.E.G.]

As little as possible that will cause an ambulance to be dispatched.

...then Keep Your Big Mouth Shut.

 

[mcdonl]

911 is your friend... If you can call 911 before someone enters your house, just do the right things and you have a trained witness... This is what they taught us at our CCW class...

Hello, 911... someone is breaking in my house.... they are in....

"I have a gun, and I will use it to protect myself. Leave my house now...." Repeat if necessary....

Now, if you are forced to shoot you have given your warnings, the police are on thier way and you have no worries. Other then having probably killed a man.

THEN like weg says... keep your big mouth shut and call your lawyer.

Leroy

 

[Gamera]

What I was asking - perhaps not clearly - is after a defensive shooting, you just shot the BG and you need to call 911.

Ideally you wouldn't want to say something like "I just shot a guy" or "I just killed him". "I had to shoot in self-defense" or "he was trying to kill me so I defended my life", something like that would be better.

 

[larry_minn]

"This is (your name) I need (Police, Ambulance/ Fire) *whatever needed* at 12345 West 32nd Street. There are (insert number) of people hurt and repeat address"

 

[TAB]

I'd start with your name and adress/location then tell them what you need. that way they have that up front.

 

[sjohn26]

If only.....................

The way it SHOULD play out:

Operator 911 what’s your emergency?

You: My name is XXX I am calling from XXX. I need to report a shooting at this location. We need police and EMSthe coroner please.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I always figured that it was best to describe the crime the perp committed and describe him, and leave out the fact he is bleeding out in my doorway.

That way when the police show up they are looking to arrest the bad guy, they recognize the guy with bullet holes as the bad guy, and the guy in his undies with the gun as the good guy.

Just my $.02

 

[Rockwell1]

You: My name is XXX I am calling from XXX. I need to report a shooting at this location. We need police and EMSthe coroner please.

Why, in the name of God would you WANT to kill somebody?

Think about what you're actually saying, imagine every time you walk into your living room remembering " This is the room where I shot that guy and watched him bleed out all over my floor" or "Gee I know we replaced the carpet, but a bet there's still a huge blood stain on the sub floor"

Or imagine sitting in a court room thinking " Oh God I didn't know the DA was going to suppeona my internet records, I sure hope he doesn't show this post

The way it SHOULD play out:

Operator 911 what’s your emergency?

You: My name is XXX I am calling from XXX. I need to report a shooting at this location. We need police and EMSthe coroner please.

to the jury.

 

[Bubba613]

Think about what you're actually saying, imagine every time you walk into your living room remembering " This is the room where I shot that guy and watched him bleed out all over my floor" or "Gee I know we replaced the carpet, but a bet there's still a huge blood stain on the sub floor"

And I'd be thinking "but it sure was worth it so the little old lady next door won't get killed by this creep."

What do you say?

HELP!

 

[MedWheeler]

Didn't read all the replies, but my idea is something like these basic facts:
That an attempted (insert forcible felony here) has occurred, and that the perpetrator has been shot. Include a description of the person shot and his condition if known, descriptions of any accomplices and their direction/means of escape if applicable, and a description of the shooter. Be specific regarding the locations of the person shot and the shooter. If you are the shooter and are still covering any suspect at gunpoint, make sure not to leave this fact out.
Some experts advise not to tell the operator you are the shooter. I disagree; I think leaving that out leads to an initial impression of deception. It can also make the radio call as it's dispatched unclear to field units.
Advise the operator whether or not any other weapons are involved, and who has/had them (is the perpetrator's weapon still within his reach? Did his accomplices flee with visible weapons?)
If not asked to do so, tell the operator you wish to remain on the line until the first officers arrive (if it's safe to do so.) Chances are, those officers will arrive at a position concealed from your view, especially if this is an indoor incident. The officers can then relay their instructions to you through her. I did this at least once when I was in LE, and it helped me sort out who was who.

 

[Rockwell1]

What do you say?

I say you go to all reasonable lengths to avoid killing another human being.

I also say you don't get on an internet forum and beat your chest and talk about how you wish you could.

Unless you are an absolute sociopath taking a human life damages your psyche, it's not something to joke about or take at all lightly.

 

[Deanimator]

Unless you are an absolute sociopath taking a human life damages your psyche

Pyschobabble.

That's not psychology, just ideology, and an ideology that I despise.

If somebody tries to murder me or someone else and in stopping them from doing that, I kill them, I have NOTHING to be ashamed of and NO reason for my "psyche" to be damaged.

That's the kind of errant nonsense that holds Hans Frank and Anne Frank to be moral equals.

 

[sjohn26]

"If somebody tries to murder me or someone else and in stopping them from doing that, I kill them, I have NOTHING to be ashamed of and NO reason for my "psyche" to be damaged."

You hit it square Dean............

Rockwell:
I will have zero hesitation to use every means necessary to protect my family and household. And sorry if they die---but that's less to worry about them returning another day to cause harm.

Pink fairies and butterfly songs may work for your confrontations.....I prefer more positive solutions.

 

[Rockwell1]

If somebody tries to murder me or someone else and in stopping them from doing that, I kill them, I have NOTHING to be ashamed of

Please go back and read my post in context I'm not saying justified homicide is in any way immoral I'm objecting to the "wouldnt it be great to blow some bad guy away and get away with it" attitude.

As to the phsycho-babble, I disagree with you, let's just leave it at that.

 

[Gamera]

Please go back and read my post in context I'm not saying justified homicide is in any way immoral I'm objecting to the "wouldnt it be great to blow some bad guy away and get away with it" attitude.

Ok, so to read your post in context,you were originally referencing sjohn's post:

The way it SHOULD play out:

Operator 911 what’s your emergency?

You: My name is XXX I am calling from XXX. I need to report a shooting at this location. We need police and EMSthe coroner please.

To which you responded:

Why, in the name of God would you WANT to kill somebody?

The OP wanted to know what to say to 911 after a self-defense shooting. sjohn gave his opinion (which is pretty much what everyone else has been saying). I don't see how his post communicates a "wouldn't it be great to blow some bad guy away and get away with it" attitude.

imagine every time you walk into your living room remembering " This is the room where I shot that guy and watched him bleed out all over my floor"

I'd rather it be that then "This is the room where that guy beat me unconscious then raped my sister".

 

[Hungry Seagull]

That will be the room that gets rebuilt. Tear it down, throw out the materials and build in some new lumber, carpet, paint etc. Anything necessary to get that BG's DNA off the property.

Then again it can easily go the other way, call the funeral home and shove us to the hearse, they will know what needs to be done down to the letter.