(Curtis Galbraith/Pattison Media)

By Liam Verster

'Make the right call'

RCMP asks public to not tie up dispatchers with non-emergency calls

Aug 13, 2021 | 3:15 PM

As demand for emergency services continue to climb during busy summer months, the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, and its partner E-Comm, reminds the public to ‘make the right call.’

E-Comm, which handles a majority of emergency calls in British Columbia, reports that up to 36 per cent of non-emergency calls do not belong on their phone lines, and in turn have to be directed to more appropriate resources.

The service provider said these calls take up time that could otherwise be spent helping people needing to report actual non-urgent police matters.

“Our detachment is supported by E-Comm and the Southeast District RCMP Operational Communication Centre (OCC), which is one of the largest and busiest RCMP 911 police dispatch centres in Canada,” stated Constable Chris Terleski, Media Relations Officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP.

“Often, calls to police non-emergency lines are not police matters and should be referred to another agency such as ICBC, the BC Residential Tenancy Branch, or municipal bylaw services. Any time we can direct these calls to a more appropriate resource, not only does it save time, but it eases the strain on E-Comm and our OCC and ensures essential communication lines remain free for emergency and police matters,” Terleski explained.

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Anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency is urged to call 911 immediately.

For non-urgent calls, people should contact their local police non-emergency line, which for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is 250-545-7171, use the RCMP’s online crime-reporting tool, or reach out to an alternative source.

Other non-emergency phone numbers and online crime reporting tools can be found at E-Comm’s website.