Report an Emergency (911)

Report an Emergency (911)

911 is to be used only in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 911. You should call 911 if:

• You believe someone is being hurt or is in danger.
• You believe property is being damaged.
• A crime is in progress or just occurred.
• Someone needs medical attention.
• There is a fire or signs of a fire such as smoke.
• There has been a hazardous material or chemical spill.
• An alarm of any kind is going off such as burglary, fire or carbon monoxide alarms.
• A motor vehicle accident has occurred.
• You hear gunshots.

Never call 911 and hang up. If you accidently call 911, do not hang up, stay on the line and let the communications officer know that you called accidentally. Enhanced 911 systems display the phone number and location of the telephone that called. A communications officer will attempt to call the phone number that hung up on 911 to verify if there is an emergency. If verification can't be made by phone, a deputy or police officer will be sent to the address.

Do NOT call 911 for road/travel information, legal advice, telephone directory assistance or transportation requests.

Report a Non-Emergency 

You should call the non-emergency number at 218-829-4749 if:

• A crime has occurred but there has been some delay in reporting it.
• You need to report loud noises such as parties, barking dogs or similar annoyances.
• You need to make a report for insurance purposes such as for a replacement cell phone, credit card, identification card or other lost or stolen items.
• You have a general animal concern.

The non-emergency number is answered 24-hours a day. Response is based on the situation, not the number you call.

Wireless Calls

Not all cellular providers are equipped to provide precise location information of a wireless 911 call to a 911 call center. Therefore, it is important to note the following when making a 911 call from a wireless phone:

• Provide your exact location:
  • the city you are in
  • the name of the road you are on
  • cross streets
  • major buildings nearby
  • mile marker signs
• Provide your wireless phone number, including your area code and your name.

Text-to-911

Text-to-911 is available throughout the state of Minnesota. This service should only be used in emergencies. If you accidentally send a text to 911, send another text or call 911 to let the communications officer know that there is not an emergency. Text-to-911 should only be used in situations where you are unable to call 911 such as:

• Domestic violence
• Home invasions
• Human trafficking
• Suicidal individuals
• Incidents where you must stay quiet to remain safe

This service is also a first contact option for individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing or have speech impairments. 

How to Text 911

1. Enter the numbers 911 in the "To" field.
2. Enter your exact location and type of emergency in the message.
3. Send the message.
4. Promptly answer all responding questions and follow instructions.

Do not use abbreviations or slang. Also, do not include emojis or pictures as the system can only accept plain text messages.

Children & 911

Teach children how to call 911. Be sure they know what 911 is for, how to dial from your home and/or cell phone and to trust the 911 dispatcher. Make sure your child is physically able to reach at least one phone in your home. When calling 911, your child needs to know their name, parent's name, telephone number, and most importantly, their address. Tell them to answer all of the dispatcher's questions.