Calling 911 when I think I hear gunshots

With July 4th here you will here lots of sounds that sound like gunshots. Be prepared.

Yeah. Have your phone ready!

I call the precinct and give approximate location of shots fired. Thank God it has been a few years since I have had to do that. dont tie up 911.

Come where? They're probably not going to send anything unless you saw something and can give them a location. Gunshots can be heard for blocks, saying "I heard something" is about as useful as not calling at all.

Gun violence isn't going to go away because people call 911 when they hear a loud noise, newguy.

I don't refuse to do anything about it. I refuse to and advise others not to follow your proposition, which doesn't make any sense. That's different.

I agree with eastbloc and the others about not calling 911 unless you have viable info that would help responders, especially since it's not just police who are going to show up, if anyone even does. There are plenty of things that sound like gun shots, but are not, so if you're really concerned, I'd recommend stoping in at the precinct hq and seeing if you can speak to a community liaison or a detective. Let them know what you've been hearing, and see what kind of lines of communication you can establish so that when you do hear something you're not sure of, you can make a note and report it back to them without tying up an emergency line.

Welcome to Brooklynian rararuru.

As a general rule, I call 911 re: gun shots when I have a belief that someone is the target, or someone is hit.

Here are 3 such instances, and a fourth which I also called 911 but technically does not abide by my general rule.

All 4 took place since 1996, and represent my sum total of calls to 911 for gun shots. Note, not all in Brooklyn. Note, I worked in very violent parts of the city, and the city has gotten lesss violent overtime, so I hope that I don't have to make a similar number of calls over the next 16 years.

In each instance, the 911 operator asked me good follow up questions to see what type of response by them was warranted. In each instance, I feel the response was closely tied to what was warranted. So, I think a fear of them over reacting to someone reporting that they merely heard what they think was a gun shot somewhere nearby, won't consume a lot of resources.

Without further a due:

When I heard gunshots following a loud argument on my block, but heard no screaming, they sent a RMP (aka cop car) to the area within about 10 min to drive around the area for a while. I might have been the only caller. No one was injured.

When I heard gunshots, screaming, and saw people running. They sent lots of cops within 5 min. I was probably one of many callers. And, not surprisingly, they found a guy shot.

When I literally looked out the window because 2 guys were arguing and I then saw one shoot the other to death, I told 911 this they told me to stay on the line with them until the police arrived. They arrived "from everywhere" within 5 min and then they took statements from me re: the shooter as they waited for the Medical Examiner. The guy was "so dead" they elected not to take him to the ER.

The fourth:

When I saw a intoxicated guy firing a gun at the WALL (?!) of a NYCHA project, I (and others) described this to 911 and we watched (from a distance) the police arrive, order said fool to drop his weapon, and said fool comply. He was then tackled from 3 directions and placed under arrest.

New Guy 88. I call the precinct when I hear gun shots to confirm approximate location and to let the precinct know people are concerned regarding gun play. Too often people in the neighborhood do not want to get involved and do not want people to be arrested. I wont call 911 unless more specific information is available. A call to the precinct doesnt tie up resources, but lets them know and decide what to do.