Dallas to require online reporting for some crimes instead of calling 911

In an effort to free up more officers for the investigation and prosecution of more severe offences, the Dallas Police Department will soon require that residents report a variety of low-priority calls online rather than by dialling 911.

The mandate, which went into effect on July 3, comes at a time when police response times are getting longer and longer, which is a challenge for the department as personnel shortages get even more severe and the number of requests for service grows. Chief Eddie Garca said on Tuesday that the implementation of mandatory online reporting will help cut the amount of time it takes for police to respond to high-priority calls and will also make the workloads of officers more manageable.

During a news conference, Garca stated, “We have to think about our men and women and the stress that they are under and the constant calls.” “We have an obligation to improve the working conditions of our men and women without jeopardising the quality of service that we provide to our community, and I believe that this solution meets that obligation.”

Officers will not physically respond to an address to take a report for certain types of calls. These types of calls include minor accidents with no injuries when the vehicles are operable, motor vehicle burglaries, credit or debit card abuse, harassing calls or texts that are not related to family violence, identity theft, reckless damage, graffiti, burglary of a coin machine, lost property, theft, and shoplifting under $2,500.00.

According to Garca, citizens should continue to dial 911 in the event of a medical emergency, whenever they see a crime in process, or whenever the suspect is present. He stated that the investigative procedure will be the same regardless of how the crime is reported to the authorities.