PSA: What your friendly police dispatcher is not for

I was flipping through the headlines when I noticed one that caught my interest: Web resources a handy tool for dispatchers. It was a fairly pedestrian piece which didn't teach me anything, but it ended with a paragraph that surely made dispatchers everywhere cringe:

For instance, when the Saturday fireworks were canceled at Dairyfest, citizens called dispatchers, Korkstrom said. People also often call dispatchers in the winter asking for road conditions.

Word to the wise-do not do any of these things. People do it, but dispatchers don't really like it that much, and you could be making the lives of dispatchers and police more difficult if they are in the middle of a real emergency. Do not call the police dispatch center for cancellations. Chances are they do not know any more than you do. If the event has a website, check there, or check the websites of local TV or radio stations. Do not call for road conditions. First of all, if you look out your window, you can tell for yourself. But secondly, if the roads are bad, chances are dispatchers are busy coordinating EMTs and officers to injury accidents, and your call is slowing them down, which in turn slows the response of the EMTs and officers. And that leads into the next thing-stormy weather. Do not call to ask if there is a watch or a warning. If there is, THEY ARE VERY BUSY!! You can find this information out on the web, radio, or TV. Do not bother them! If your power goes out, don't tell them! Call your utility-the number is on your bill. The dispatcher can't help you much, and they aren't going to tell you why the power is out. And, as with bad roads and storms, they get busy when the power is out. If you are safe but in the dark, leave them alone so they can better help people who are in the dark and not safe.

To sum it up, dispatchers are an emergency resource for the public, not the information line. If you don't have a complaint or an emergency, don't call them. Let them help those who do.