The Saskatchewan RCMP released their top ten calls that "missed the mark" over 2024.
While they receive plenty of calls over the year for emergency situations, some tend to be a bit less serious than first thought.
10. Who are you? A concerned individual called 911 to advise that they didn’t recognize someone on their social media friend list.
9. Spick and span: A frustrated individual called to complain that their parents were forcing them to clean their room.
8. Stop stressing meowt: A caller advised that a fox was wandering the neighbourhood and scaring a local cat.
7. To bee or not to bee: 911 dispatchers received a call from a person saying that they had a problem with bees in their home.
6. Tech support: A concerned individual called 911 to ask for help unlocking their cell phone.
5. Litter bug: An individual called 911 to report that someone had thrown their ice cream on the ground.
4. Cut the cat-itude: A caller advised that their cat was being mean to them and they were hoping an officer would come and help with the situation.
3. Loads of fun: 911 dispatchers received a call from a person who was having trouble with their washing machine.
2. I’m counting on you: An individual called 911 asking for help on a math equation as they didn’t want to fail their test in the morning.
1. Party’s over: 911 dispatchers received a call from an individual saying that their tambourine was taken from a party they attended.
While the list seems entertaining, Recruiter and Training Facilitator for the Saskatchewan RCMP Operational Communication Centre, Lee Rosin, says that wasting police resources is anything but.
"It really comes from an educational standpoint, pointing out reasons people call 911, which is kind of an abusive of the system. 911 is for life-threatening emergencies or crimes in progress, and as you can see, some people just call the line because they can remember that phone number and they don't really meet that criteria, so they're tying up a 911 operator for something that is not an emergency and somebody who's having the real emergency may have to be delayed getting help."
Rosin stresses that instead people should call the 310-RCMP line, which can get them in touch with their local detachment.