Calling 911 when I think I hear gunshots

First of all, it's 4th of July week. There's gonna be firecrackers everywhere.

Second of all, unless you can see someone shooting and can provide a location, calling 911 to tell them you heard a loud noise can only prevent the dispatcher from taking a call at the same time from someone who actually has materially useful information.

If you think you actually heard gun shots you should call 911. I don't think people should feel hesitant to call 911 ever, especially if there is even the possibility of guns.

Clearly there are guns in the neighborhood, and clearly people are being shot.

Also, does anyone have any theories for why there seems to be much more violent activity in Western CH this summer than in the most recent summers? I've lived in CH now for 3 years, and I don't remember so much gun violence on Nostrand. My theory is that b/c of gentrification and development, and the larger police presence, the available territory for the underground economy is shrinking and involved people are encroaching on each other, exacerbating whatever tensions may already exist.

Good luck with calling the cops. Let us know how that works out.

What's going on is simply summer on Nostrand. Things always escalate when the temperature goes up. It'll settle back down in September. Nostrand is still way better than it was even just a couple of years ago.

Violence is scary.

The question is "should one be afraid of it?"

I have concluded that measuring violence on a given avenue (or losely defined neighborhood) from one summer to the next is certainly doable, but it isn't real predictive, and therefore not worthy of fear.

Before I begin to be afraid of being a murder victim, I tend to look at citywide stats on the demographics and circumstances of murders, as well as those that look at things like entire Precincts.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/murder_in_nyc_2012.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml

Then, I think about my life and habits, and make a decision as to how at risk I am.

....and whether I should change any of my habits in exchange for a lower risk.

I then consistently decide no changes are required, or possible at this time.

I think we all agree shootings and other forms of violence are bad, and if they are to occur, it is best that they occur far, far away.

When they happen close by, we not only stand an increased chance of being an unintended actual victim but also a victim of the fear.

so does anyone know if nyc has one of those gun shot detectors like other cities have? if so you don't need to call cops.

I call the cops when I see or hear an altercation escalate, especially if I hear words like "I'm gonna kill you" or "I'll be back". I also call the cops if I can provide actual details such as shots fired followed by people running from roof to roof. I also call if I hear shots followed by screams. If I can ID words/screams it's likely I can give details of location.

I never call the cops if I just hear gun shots followed by nothing.

Call the cops when you have specific information to provide.

"I heard a loud noise" does not qualify. "Someone's been stabbed on my block" does.

No, we don't have gunshot detectors, and cops on this board have opined before that they're not very useful because responding to victimless gunfire (or firecrackers) is a waste of their time.

Same reason your call to report a loud noise is likely to be ignored.

Don't tie up the lines unless you have something to add that is useful.