Pella Police PD Cruisers

911 Month is an important time during April that raises awareness and educates the public on the importance of making a 911 call.

The communicators at the Pella Police Department emphasize proper use of 911 so they can do their jobs efficiently.

Communications Supervisor Marcia Slycord told KNIA/KRLS News when someone calls 911 by mistake and hangs up, it can sometimes be a serious issue.

“We don’t want to jeopardize safety by calling the person back and having them answer. It’s just so much more efficient if we can take care of the mistake right away, rather than calling the person back,” says Slycord.

She also says it is best to stay on the line in the event of a mistake 911 call and explain the false alarm.

Martha Dysktra with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to properly educate children about emergency situations.

Dysktra says non-emergency calls should always be directed to the county’s listed numbers – 828-2220 or 628-4921 in Pella.