Prank Calling 911 is Wrong and Dangerous

In 2007, a 19-year-old male called 911 claiming he was inside a home and had just shot and killed someone. Sensing the urgency of the situation, 911 called out SWAT Unit and raced over to the residence. Moments later a man exits the house and is immediately taken into custody. What is wrong with this picture? Nothing, except for the fact that the caller was in fact in his own home making a prank call, the man the was taken into custody was the owner of the house and the cops had better things to do that night than answer a bogus call for help.

Every year 911 dispatchers get prank calls just as the one mentioned above. Almost every time police are dispatched because that is what cops do. They get a call and they answer it, no questions asked. However, every time a cop has to respond to a prank type complaint is a time in which they could be solving a real crime.

The prank described above is just one of prank calls that are answered by 911 every week, some of the others include:

• bomb scares
• false hostage claims
• fake bank robberies

Each time a police officer responds to a prank call, the community he or she serves it placed in a dangerous position. While police officers are off solving “fake crimes”, people are getting away with real crimes.

Making a false report is a crime in most states, but the penalty for doing so is too small; making a false report should carry a sentence of at least 5 years in prison. It is not funny to play a prank on 911 dispatchers, police officers or any other branch of law enforcement.

Police officers put their lives on the line every day and night. Their job is not a joke. When another person has hurt someone you love, you want the police to help you. They want to help you, but cannot do so if they are across town answering a false alarm. If you know of someone who has called 911 for the sole purpose of playing a prank, tell them it is not funny and turn them in if you have to.

By stopping your friend or family member from prank calling the police, you could save a life. That life could be the life of a friend or family member, could be that of an officer and it could be your own. Police officers deserve respect and deserve to have the community support they need in order to their job.

To all the men and women of law enforcement, we owe you all a debt of gratitude. You do a job that not just anyone could do and you all do it for the same reason that a soldier fights. You all are very much appreciated and are in my prayers every day. I greatly admire what you all do and hope this article goes a long way in getting you all the respect you all deserve.