For background, I live in a residential neighborhood of mostly single family residences in a fairly large city. While guns are not part of my daily life now, I am an ex infantry sergeant and was raised rural and spent a fair amount of time hunting when I was younger.
I heard what I am quite certain were gunshots last night while out for a walk. Often when I hear a pop, I am uncertain it is a gunshot, they are probably fireworks or a backfire, but it was a clear and quiet night so I could hear it well. The tempo was one pop, then a short pause followed by three rapid pops. That pause caught my attention, so I could focus on the sound of the following three.
As the subject asks, should I have called 911? At the time I assumed that there are surely police in the area, but frankly i don’t have any interactions with the police, so that is probably unfounded. I also am concerned about not wanting to waste a dispatcher’s valuable time. In retrospect though, maybe no police were around and no one else called. I could have given a direction. The distant would have been a guess, but I could have helped narrow the area a bit.
Would you have called 911?
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
Comments
I mean, you can, but doesn’t mean anything would come of it, couldn’t have hurt though.
When someone calls in a “shots heard” with no other context I drive there, check the area, listen for gunshots and then go back into service 95% of the time.
Nah Sarge, basing on my perspective and where I live (somewhat rural but a busy county overall) I wouldn’t think calling 911 to report it would be necessary based on the circumstances described. The 911 center may have a non-emergency number or “admin” line that you could call and report it to, especially for future similar events. Try checking the ol’ google for the agency’s website/info.
You could also maybe see if the jurisdiction/agency has a chat feature on social media (my 911 center and Sheriff’s Office both have a non-emergency chat on facebook). If so, you could report it there, or get further specific guidance…kind of like a see something, say something concept.
Otherwise, you could look for buzzards circling in the next couple of days I guess? /s.