IN-PROGRESS INCIDENT
If you are reporting an in-progress incident that is an emergency situation, call 911. The dispatcher will ask you for as much information as possible regarding the circumstances while simultaneously dispatching police and/or fire and medic units to the location. It is important to provide the dispatcher with an accurate account of what you saw, who the involved parties are (if that is known), what they are wearing, the last known direction and mode of travel, and if any weapons were seen. If the suspects are fleeing the area in a vehicle and you are able to provide the license plate number and a description of the vehicle that information can be particularly helpful to responding officers.
NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION
If you are reporting an incident that is a non-emergency situation please call (805) 461-5051. A dispatcher will take the information from you and dispatch officers to the location as soon as they become available. It is important to provide the dispatcher with a brief account of what occurred, a description or names of the involved parties, the address where the incident occurred, and the address where you would like the officer to meet with you if that location is different than the incident location.