No one wants to call the police.  But if the need arises, you shouldn't hesitate to reach out for help.

However, some call reports aren't necessarily always an emergency; some calls don't always require an immediate response that brings officers to the scene.

The "best use" of resources is important these days - no matter what industry you're talking about.  With increasing case or work loads and hiring shortages, it's a common goal that a lot of places strive towards. It's no different with the police department and law enforcement.

Back in June, the Duluth Police Department announced the way that they "altered responses to calls for service".  Those changes have allowed the department to have "the capacity to be first responders during emergency calls for service" - allowing those emergency situations to be "a priority for the Duluth Police Department".

But that doesn't mean that other - less urgent - calls are any less important.

To help manage that prioritization process, the Duluth Police Department has made updates to their E-Reporting system.  That system is easy to navigate through; at the start page, you're asked a variety of questions that help to narrow down and specify the pertinent details of the crime or service-call you're trying to report in.

According to the Duluth Police Department, the E-Reporting system "should only be used to report crimes that have no active leads and do not require a police officer to respond".

The types of incidents that could be "called in" using the E-Reporting system include:

  • Damage to motor vehicle
  • Scams
  • Lost property
  • Theft

By using the online platform to report these incidents, it allows the department to better prioritize their manpower.  A Community Service Officer will be able to then conduct a follow up to the incident as time allows.

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