Communications Center FAQs

Contact the Communications Center on the non-emergency line (209) 754-6500 at least one (1) hour prior to needing the standby. The Dispatcher will send a Deputy to your location if one is available.

If an in-progress priority call comes into the Communication Center the Deputy will be sent to that call first.

The Sheriff's Office provides Civil Standbys on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Police reports are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am - 4:00pm by contacting Records at (209) 754-6695.

The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office 24 hour number for non-emergency calls is (209) 754-6500. The Deputy's response time to non-emergency calls depends on the seriousness of the incident reported and how many emergency and non-emergency calls in your area came in before your call.

Some examples of non-emergency calls are:

• Burglaries that are not in progress or that occurred some time ago and the suspect is no longer at the scene of the crime
• Stolen checks, credit cards or identity theft
• Vandalism to property
• Loud parties or music
• Past incidents of child abuse, domestic abuse or fights
• Runaway juveniles or missing adults that are not believed to be in immediate danger 
• Car or building alarms
• Loitering or disturbing the peace

Crimes in progress, such as:

• A fire
• Serious illness or injury
• Missing persons particularly children or elderly subjects

9-1-1 is the number to call to summon sheriff, fire or medics in an emergency.

E-9-1-1 routes the emergency call to the nearest public safety answering point (PSAP) which is closest to the caller. This means that from your home (landline) phone the 9-1-1 service is then enhanced when both your phone number and home location are provided to the 9-1-1 dispatcher. Cell phones with GPS features show latitude/longitude co-ordinates but it is still essential that you tell the 9-1-1 dispatcher where you are.

The dispatcher is trained to find out:

• WHERE? Where is the incident taking place? Where is the fire? Where is the crime? Where is the patient? Where are you? Where is the suspect?
• WHAT? What is the nature of the call? What are you reporting? What type of crime? What type of fire? Brush, structure, wildland? What kind of illness or injury.
• WHO? Who is involved? Who needs an ambulance? Who are you? Who is the suspect?
• WHEN? When did this happen? Is it in progress? Did it just occur?
• WEAPONS? Are there any weapons involved? Does anyone have access to weapons?
• SAFETY FIRST:  NEVER place yourself or other in danger. Do not attempt to apprehend or detain suspects.

A trained 9-1-1 dispatcher will answer your call. Depending on the nature of the call, you will be asked to answer a series of questions. Listen carefully and answer all questions. The dispatchers are trained to ask certain questions to obtain critical information in order to provide the highest level of public safety response. While the questions may seem unnecessary the information they obtain will help to appropriately classify the call and get responders to the correct location as quickly as possible. It is vital that you remain calm and speak clearly. Know that help can be sent while the dispatcher is on the phone with you.

• To get the time or date
• To get a phone number
• To report improper parking
• To find out weather conditions
• To get road conditions
• To report barking dogs
• To report stray animals
• To report missing pets
• As a prank

9-1-1 as created for emergency purposes only.

DO NOT call 9-1-1 for non-emergencies; this causes delays in the handling of true emergencies.

Every day calls are made to the Sheriff's Office to report incidents that should be reported to other agencies, simply because the caller does not know who to call.

Here are some FAQ's to help avoid these incidents:
 

Who do I call to report:

• Reckless Driver
• Speeding Vehicle
• Non-Injury Vehicle Accident

Contact the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at (209) 943-8600.

Who do I call to report:

• Barking Dogs
• Injured or Neglected Animals
• Stray Animals

Contact Animal Services at (209) 754-6509. 

Who do I call to find out if it is a burn day?

• Call Burn Day Information at (209) 754-6600 or (209) 785-7664.

The Sheriff’s Department does not have anything to do with determining burn day status.