The Canandaigua Police Department has issued a public service announcement to clarify the proper procedures for contacting law enforcement, following misleading information from a media source.
In its statement, the department emphasized that all calls for police service, including reports of crimes, motor vehicle accidents, and other incidents, must be made to 911. The Ontario County 911 Center records and dispatches all calls, ensuring that officers are sent where they are needed.
For those visiting the police department lobby, reports and service requests are also routed through the 911 Center. A call-box outside the lobby provides a direct connection for residents needing assistance. The department clarified that its reception and records staff do not dispatch officers.
Administrative inquiries, such as police records requests, property and evidence control, complaints, or contacting a specific officer, should be directed to the department’s administrative office during business hours, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Calls to previously published police department numbers now roll over to the main administrative line at 585-396-5035. After hours and on weekends, these calls are automatically forwarded to the Ontario County 911 Center.
The announcement also addressed a specific incident where a caller reported that a request for a welfare check had been ignored. The police department clarified that the call was made on a Sunday to an outdated administrative line. The call was correctly forwarded to the 911 Center, which determined the incident was outside the City of Canandaigua’s jurisdiction and referred it to the appropriate agency in the Town of Hopewell.
By reinforcing these procedures, the Canandaigua Police Department aims to prevent confusion and ensure that residents know the correct channels for emergency and administrative concerns.
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