The SPD 9-1-1 Call Center has 15-19 workers at each of 3 shifts. Half the room is call takers and the other half is radio dispatchers. When a call comes in, if it is appropriate, it is transferred to Seattle Fire Dept/Medic One, WA State Patrol, or another police agency. The call taker may get a translator on the line if one is needed. Events appropriate for the Police are triaged by the call taker (they ask you questions) and pass it on to the radio dispatchers.
Radio dispatchers see the typed events on  their computer screens. They prioritize the events and assign them to officers. Events are prioritized in this order:
- Immediate response – violent crimes, in-progress crimes, domestic violence
- Expedited response – just-occured property crimes, still a chance to apprehend suspect
- Investigative nature – just need police report
Even though personal information is taken by the call taker, and it is stored in the database, you may request anonymity. This may help if you are complaining about a neighbor and don’t want to make things worse between you. 🙂
After a radio dispatcher prioritizes the event, it is assigned to an officer in the precinct, sector and district where it occurred. If it is a serious emergency and all officers there are busy, it can be assigned to one in a different district, sector, or even precinct. Less serious events may have to wait for an officer if the officers in the district happens to be busy. The Call Center will update you about every hour if there is a long wait. The Radio dispatchers also manage radio traffic and record all updates from the assigned officers.
The Call Center handles both 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls. If you call 9-1-1 and say it is not an emergency, they will still take the call. If you call the non-emergency line (206-625-5011) they will take your call, but 9-1-1 calls take precedence.
Remember, the Police encourage us to call 9-1-1 if we see suspicious activity. Also, please report all crimes. The more the police know about what’s going on in the neighborhood, the better they can tune their activities to help. Property crimes under $500 can be called in, or you can self-report on-line here.
I reported suspicious activity on 117th between 5th and Roosevelt.
Two men on bicycles were going door to door and offering to wash windows.
The man that approached our house was caucasian, 35-45 years of age, very thin, wearing a grey hoodie, jeans, grey gloves and running shoes. He rode down the street later with a yellow jacket over his hoodie.
They may have been casing houses for burglaries.
If you see the 2 men in the area again, please call the non-emergency police line at: 206-625-5011. At the 1st menu press #2, at the 2nd menu press #8.