Show All Answers

1. What should I teach my child about calling 911?

While many children are familiar with dialing 911 in an emergency situation, they often do not know other important information, such as their address or how to reach a parent at work. Experts recommend that you begin teaching your child this important information at about age three:

• Teach your children their full names, their parents’ full names, their home address and phone number with area code.
• Teach your children the name of your employer and the phone number.
• Teach your children what an emergency is and when to call 911.
• Teach your children how to hold the phone properly so that they can speak clearly into the phone.
• Teach your children that it is against the law to call 911 as a joke or prank.
• Teach your children not to be afraid to call 911.

Teaching your children to call you at work before calling 911 wastes valuable time. Give them permission to call 911 if they think there is an emergency.

Attempt to stay calm when you are talking to a 911 dispatcher. Take a deep breath. Listen to and answer each question. Do not hang up after dialing 911 until the dispatcher tells you to do so (even if you did not mean to dial 911).

2. Should I call 911 when my utilities stop working?

You need to contact your individual utility companies, who provide phone, gas, water, and electric services to your home. If it is an after hours need for a city service such as payment or re-connection, you may contact Henderson Dispatch at 270-827-8700 and we can contact the on-call personnel to assist with your need.

3. Can I remain anonymous?

Yes! However, in some cases, receiving information anonymously can limit the power of the police to act.

When you call the police to report a crime or a suspicious incident, the dispatcher you speak with will ask your name and other identifying information. The information can be used so that we can contact you if that ever becomes necessary. If you don't want to share your personal information, just tell the dispatcher "I'd like to remain anonymous, please." Your identifying information will not be entered into the computer system.

When we receive anonymous information, we will do our best. However, the lack of your personal information limits what we can do. We aren't able to call you back to ask for clarifying information. 

Either way, please call us with your concern! Consider sharing your identifying information so we can do the best job of keeping your neighborhood safe. Regardless, if you decide to remain anonymous, we'll do everything we can to investigate your complaint.