▼

Police - Communications

Show All Answers

1. Is there a jail at the City of Greenville Police and Courts Building?

The municipal jail is at the Greenville Police and Courts Building, located at 3000 Lee St. The Hunt County Jail is located at 2801 Stuart St. The telephone number for the Hunt County Jail is (903) 453-6851.

2. Can the Police Department trace a telephone number?

No, the Police Department cannot trace numbers. The telephone company can provide you with that service, but first you must make a police report. Once you have the report number, you can contact the telephone company. For questions about filing a police report, please call (903) 457-2900.

3. How do I get a protective order?

The local police department does not provide protective orders. You need to contact an attorney or the Justice of the Peace for information on obtaining a protective order. The telephone number for the JP, Precinct 1 is (903) 453-6922. The telephone number for the JP, Precinct 2 is (903) 453-6930.

4. Why does it take so long for the police to respond when I call?

All requests for police services are assigned to priority based on the seriousness of the incident and the potential for injury or damage to property. At times, calls of a less urgent nature must be delayed so that we can respond immediately to emergencies.

5. My family and I are going on vacation. Will the police keep an eye on our home while we are gone?

You can call 903-457-2900 and request a close watch. The information will be passed on to the officer that patrols your neighborhood on each shift. While we cannot “watch” your house, the officer will try to check on it when time permits. It is always good to leave a contact name and number in case an emergency occurs.

6. Why do they ask so many questions when I call the police?

Communication operators are trained to get as much information as possible to best determine the nature of the problem and its seriousness. On emergency calls, the communications operator is sending information to the officer while asking additional questions.

7. Should I report suspicious activity in my neighborhood?

The police department depends on citizens to report crimes or suspicious activity. The communications operator taking your call will ask questions about the activity to determine its nature and ask for descriptions of the people involved. You will be asked for your name and address but you may refuse this information and we will still respond to the reported activity.

8. I need to get a message to someone who does not have a telephone. Will the police department go to the person’s home and deliver the message?

The police department only delivers emergency or life or death messages.

9. May I report drunk drivers to 911 on my car telephone?

Yes, calls to 911 on a cellular telephone are airtime free. Do not try to pursue the drunk driver or place yourself in any danger. When you call, you will be asked for the description of the car, where it is, and the direction it is going.

10. Is there a waiting period before I can report someone missing?

No, you may make a missing person report whenever you realize someone is missing.

11. May I make a police report at any time of day or do I need to make an appointment?

The police department will respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week to any requests for police assistance.

12. May I make a report over the telephone or will an officer have to come to my home?

Some reports can be taken over the phone.

13. May I have retrieved information on a license plate?

State and Federal regulations prohibits using the computer to retrieve information not related to investigative purposes and the information can only be shared with law enforcement entities.

14. When the sirens are activated, should I call the police department for information?

Do not call the police department for information. Listen to your radio or television weather reports for current information. The police department obtains weather information from these and other sources. When citizens call the police department, our telephone lines for emergency services due to the storm are tied up. This can cause delays in response by the police, fire, and AMR. Do not call 911 for storm information or to report a non-emergency incident. Remember, during a severe storm the communication operators are very busy with emergency calls for police, fire, and paramedics. If you need to report a non-emergency incident to the police department, call 903-457-2900.

15. If my address and phone number show up when I call 911, why does the 911 operator ask me what my address and phone number are?

Although the address and phone number from a landline phone display on the 911 operator’s screen, the information may not be correct. For example, if you have recently moved from one location to another and the phone number stayed the same, the wrong address may display. The 911 operator will always verify the address to ensure emergency personnel respond to the correct location in order to avoid any further harm or injury to the patient/victim.

16. What should I do if my child or I dial 911 by mistake?

When 911 is dialed by mistake, the caller should always stay on the line. There is no penalty for calling 911 by mistake. The 911 operator who answers the phone will want to verify the address and phone number and make sure there is no emergency. If 911 is dialed by mistake and the caller hangs up, the 911 operator will immediately call the location to confirm there is no emergency. A police officer is dispatched to check the situation regardless of whether or not there is an emergency.

17. If I see a crime in progress, what should I do?

Please do not try to apprehend the subject or take matters into your own hands. Call 911 immediately and give the operator as much information as you can. Be as accurate as you can in giving the precise address of the crime so we can respond as quickly as possible.

18. My neighbor constantly plays loud music late at night. Will the police do anything about it?

Yes. Call the communications center at 903-457-2900 when loud music or other noise is bothering you. An officer will be dispatched to the offender’s house to have the music or noise stopped.

19. I saw a police car, with its lights and siren on, speeding down the street. Why were the red lights and siren turned off after the car went through the intersection?

The officer was probably responding to an emergency call when the status of the call changed (level of emergency reduced) so he/she was either disregarded, or slowing down his/her response accordingly.

20. Will the police open my car if I lock my keys inside?

Because of the potential for damage to vehicles, the police department does not open locked vehicles. A locksmith is your best alternative. However, if a child is locked in a vehicle, this is a true emergency. The police and/or fire department will respond and open the vehicle any way possible, even by breaking out the window if necessary.

21. How can I keep someone from coming back on my property that doesn’t belong here?

You can request that a police officer respond to your property and issue a trespass warning to the person. If the person returns to your property after the warning has been issued he or she can be arrested. To request a police officer for the purpose of issuing a trespass warnings please call our non-emergency line at 903-457-2900.

22. Why does the 911 Operator sometimes ask me to call back on a non-emergency number?

Many people use 911 for any type of complaint or question they might have. We do not want the 911 lines tied up with non-emergency calls. We ask you to call back on a non-emergency number so we are able to leave the 911 lines open for life or death emergencies. If you have a non-emergency situation, please call 903-457-2900.

23. What should I do if my purse or wallet is lost or stolen?

If your purse or wallet was lost or stolen, cancel your credit cards immediately. Contact your bank if your checkbook and/or ATM card was in the purse or wallet. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen. Place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security Number with the three national credit reporting agencies:

Experian
TransUnion
Equifax