EDMONTON – Police in Edmonton are promoting a telephone number they hope will cut down on the number of people who call 911 for tips on how to cook a turkey or prepare their taxes.
The #377 number is aimed at directing cellphone users to information they’re seeking instead of making nuisance 911 calls that tie up the emergency response system.
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Const. Michael Rott, who studied the problem in August, says he found about 70 per cent of the incoming 911 calls were misdials or so-called accidental pocket dials.
Kim Pudde, a 911 supervisor, says people will actually call the emergency number and demand to be put through to police, even they’re not facing an emergency situation.
Police say they’re promoting #377 because it was only in the last two months that all cellphone providers agreed to have the number direct callers to a non-emergency line.
The number for landline users is 780-423-4567. (CHED)
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