Minneapolis: Call 311 instead of 911 to report property damage, theft

[sarisataka]

Minneapolis: Call 311 instead of 911 to report property damage, theft

Minneapolis residents are now instructed to call 311 instead of 911 report theft or property damage if it is not currently in progress as the city works to find alternatives to police responses. 

In a release, the City of Minneapolis said non-police city employees at 311 will start taking reports of non-violent, non-emergency theft and property damage not in progress, instead of 911 dispatching police officers. The change goes into effect on June 14. 

If the theft or property damage is occurring at the time of the call, residents should still call 911, the city says. 

Minneapolis 311 takes calls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday, but residents need to call between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to make a theft or property damage report. If they need to make a report outside of those hours or on holidays, they can either submit a report online, call back during those hours or leave a voicemail for a callback within three business days. 

https://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-call-311-instead-of-911-to-report-property-damage-theft

[Ocelot II]

1. Not a bad idea.

A couple years ago I discovered some property damage (vandalism), and although I knew nothing could be done about it in terms of prosecuting the perp, and although I was pretty sure who did it, I had to get a police report for insurance purposes. So I called the police, though not on 911, and after awhile they sent a couple officers out to have a look. They were real d-bags about it and acted like I was some kind of crackpot who was just wasting their time, even after I explained that I wasn't looking to have anyone prosecuted and that I just needed a report so I could file an insurance claim. I didn't want to waste the officers' time but there was nobody else I could call. This is exactly the kind of thing other city employees should be handling.

[sarisataka]

2. I agree that damage or theft

Which is complete is not an emergency. As you say, the call is more for insurance than any hope effort will be spent to recover missing property.

My concern would be the optics of "regular" city employees taking the reports. It can give the impression that property damage and theft is being decriminalized and only recorded for statistical purposes. (Not far from what it is de facto but facts aren't everything)