Fri 9 Nov 2007
Automated Phone Call From The Cops
Posted by David under journalism
[2] Comments
Wow, is this the new thing? Yes, I guess it is, the thing they call reverse 911. Now I get it.
10:55pm: the phone rings. I figured only a close friend would call so late, I answer:
“This is the Bloomington Police Department”
WOAH! Well, they weren’t after me for any reason, it was a recorded voice, saying they wanted help finding some dangerous man on the loose. I remember some of the description, but I can’t give his name or anything (that was part of the recording). And, worse, I figured there’d be some website you could go to to, say, check the facts again, maybe see a mug shot… Well, if there is, I can’t find it. Seems pretty lame.
Does seem like something is afoot though. I found these two newsy clips about IU police having acquired such a system. I swear this said Bloomington Police, though, and I don’t know why IU police would call out here. On the other hand, the place they said this guy was last sighted was nowhere near my house, so… who knows.
Anyway, a sign of the time, my first reverse 911 call. I wonder how long before I feel ashamed that I didn’t know what it was. :)
woah they called you at 11 pm and the guy wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near you? did they call the whole town? am i supposed to follow that link so it tells me these things? but you might tell me and have it be more fun!!
:)
it’s an interesting strategy.
i wonder how often people are like “oh yeah! that’s this guy here who i just gave a cup of tea, um… *69! *69! crap! what’s the callback number for reverse 911?!”
or did it like beep or something and let you leave a message if you knew anything? that could be fun, except for all the “LEAVE ME ALONE IT’S 11 AT NIGHT GO DO YOUR JOB” messages. i can understand why cops eat all those donuts.
I also wondered if they called the whole town. The link doesn’t explain these things! I think that’s an information age failure.
They left a number for the police dept. I didn’t write it down, but I figure I could have found the number if I needed it. But, still, I think it could be a lot better. I think a website linked up for followup info would be perfect!