Marion County Activates 311 Non-Emergency Line For Cell Phones

MARION COUNTY, IN -- Local law enforcement officials have teamed up to implement 311 Marion County in an effort to save lives and protect citizens. The non-emergency line for cell phones, backed by Marion County Sheriff John R. Layton, IMPD Chief Bryan Roach, Speedway Police Chief Jim Campbell, Lawrence Police Chief David Hofmann and Beech Grove Police Chief Mark Swartz, is now available for people needing non-emergency law enforcement assistance.

Why 311? Officials say approximately 60% of calls made to the Marion County Sheriff’s 911 Center are not true emergencies and can therefore hinder emergency services for those facing life or death emergencies.

This will allow us the ease of contacting 911 without holding up an emergency 911 dispatcher.

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Officials say Marion County is the first county in Indiana to implement 311 for cell phone users, joining Baltimore, Chicago, Las Vegas and New Orleans in the same effort.

While 311 is now available to cell phone users, officials say the non-emergency line for landline phones remains as 317-327-3811. Officials say the following are examples of non-emergency phone calls that should be directed to 311 or 317-327-3811:

• Lost or stolen property
• Noise complaints, loud music, loud parties, barking dogs
• Fraud reports, identity theft reports
• Requests for vehicle inspection checks
• Any report being made for insurance purposes
• Any incident involving a time delay that has an effect on the situation such as a delayed burglary report, delayed theft reports, delayed motor vehicle accident
• Any other reason a citizen may need to speak with a dispatcher that does not constitute a life or death emergency.

More: @MCSO_IN

Image via Marion County Sheriff's Office