Our Telecommunicators

Telecommunicators are responsible for the receipt and handling of all incoming and transmitted communications, including but not limited to, 9-1-1 lines, normal business phone lines, TTY devices, radio communications with fire, EMS, and law enforcement units. Telecommunicators are also responsible for entering of CAD data for all field activities of fire, and law enforcement units and making inquiries through outside data bases in support of those field units.

When to Call 9-1-1

9-1-1 is for emergencies: A threat to life, serious injury, fire or to stop a crime in progress. 9-1-1 is to be used when you or someone else needs immediate assistance.

Some examples for when it would be appropriate to call 9-1-1

• Medical emergencies such as heart attack, stroke, someone having difficulty breathing or who is unconscious or at risk from some other serious medical problem.
• A verbal or physical fight/disturbance.
• You see a crime in progress or are following a possibly intoxicated driver.

Some examples when you should use the non-emergency number 541-994-3636:

• You've discovered your house has been burglarized but the burglary is no longer in progress
• There is a barking dog in your neighborhood
• You need to speak with an officer about a previously reported incident.

If you are experiencing a power outage do not call 911 for expected outage time. Contact your local power supplier to report the outage:

• Pacific Power: 1-877-548-3768
• Consumer Power: 1-800-872-9036

Procedure for Using the 9-1-1 System

When dialing 9-1-1, tell the Telecommunicators if you need police, fire or medical assistance. In situations where you require more than one service, first request the service that will maintain life. The other services that are needed will automatically follow.

Stay on the line until the Telecommunicators has all of the information needed. Do not hang up until you are instructed to do so by the Telecommunicators.

Give the Telecommunicators your name, address, telephone number and a one or two sentence description of what you actually see and hear. Let the Communications Specialist Telecommunicators ask you questions to ensure that they receive the information needed to respond to your call. Be specific about what is happening; do not exaggerate the circumstances.

Continue answering the Telecommunicators questions, so that they may have up-to-date information to relay to the responding officer. It is not necessary for you to hang up before the help can be dispatched.