Do not call 911 if you can't decide what TV channel to watch: police

We're just a few weeks into the new year and police in Norfolk County already have some contenders for the most unnecessary 911 call of 2019.

The Ontario Provincial Police Norfolk County detachment has received seven non-emergency calls to 911 so far this month, said Const. Ed Sanchuk.

The latest happened on Saturday night when dispatchers received a call from a man saying he needed to speak with police. Officers arrived at the Simcoe address and discovered two people were in disagreement over what television channel they should watch.

Sanchuk says the call did not require an emergency response. Nor did the other "trivial" calls made this month, which include a woman calling because she didn't like who her child was hanging out with, and a person suffering from raccoons on their property.

"I'm not trying to discourage people from calling," said Sanchuk. "If you've got a life-threatening emergency, a house fire, a crime in progress, call 911."

If you want to talk to police about other matters, Sanchuk says police are happy to take calls at their non-emergency phone number.

The television incident is an example of how these misdirected calls waste resources and can jeopardize the lives of other people, said Sanchuck.

In an ongoing effort to educate the public about when calls should be made to 911 and when they shouldn't, Norfolk County police have released the details of multiple unnecessary 911 calls made in recent weeks. 

But the message does not seem to be sticking.

If young kids know when it's appropriate to call 911, why are adults having problems understanding? said Sanchuck.

"I just shake my head at it."