Communications Section 

Calling 911

In the City of Pasadena the Communication center answers all 911 emergency calls, non- emergency calls and information calls.  In order to better serve you the Communications Center asks that you use the 9-1-1- emergency number only when there is an immediate risk to life or property.  Here are some examples of when to dial 9-1-1. 

• Any medical emergency

• Any fire emergency

• Any in progress or just occurred crimes

• Any crime where the suspect is still in or near the location

• Any injury traffic accident

Here are some examples of non-emergency calls:

• Delayed vehicle theft

• Delayed burglaries ie…residential, commercial and auto

• Noise problems (parties, loud neighbors, music, etc…

Wh When you call 9-1-1or the non emergency number in Pasadena it will come directly to the Pasadena Police Department.  If the call is from a non-cellular phone, the caller’s name, address and telephone number appear on a computer screen. In Pasadena all 911 calls come to the Pasadena Police Department first and the caller will be asked if they need the police or the fire/paramedics. (If they need the latter, they will be directly transferred to the fire dispatcher.)  The 9-1-1 operator will ask everyone a standard set of questions to help with this process.  Your dispatcher will need to know:


1.      Location of the problem.  If you are calling on 911 this information should be shown on the dispatchers console, but we always will confirm this information in case you should be calling from a different location then where you need the officers sent.   If you are calling on the non-emergency number you will have to give us this information.  BE SURE TO GIVE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND EXTENSION TO THE DISPATCHER.

        If you are calling 9-1-1 from a cellular phone, your call may automatically be answered by the California Highway Patrol. You must advise the CHP Dispatcher what city you are calling from, your current location and what your emergency is so that your call will be routed to the proper 9-1-1 agency. 

 2.      Type of problem.  The dispatcher will need to know the nature of your call.  If your call is a medical and or fire problem you will be directly transferred to Verdugo dispatch.  You will be asked for a basic description of what occurred and, if applicable,

              When the incident occurred
              A description of the suspect, including clothing
              Whether a weapon was involved, if so what type
              A description and direction of travel of a car, if one was used.

3.      Give the dispatcher all of the information available to you.  Do not leave out information because you don’t think that it is important.  The more we know about an incident, the more effective we can be.

4.      If you call 9-1-1 by mistake DO NOT HANG UP!  Tell the dispatcher that you called by mistake and you don’t have an emergency.  Anytime a dispatcher receives a 9-1-1 “hang-up”, the caller must be contacted to assure that no actual emergency exists.  This may require an officer be needlessly dispatched to your home or office to ensure the well being of all persons there.

5.      If a person does not speak English the 9-1-1 system allows for calls to transferred to an interpreter who can translate many different languages.

6.      If a person is using a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) the 9-1-1 system will automatically detect the TDD equipment and open a TDD display screen for the dispatcher when the 9-1-1 call is answered.  The dispatcher will require the same information as listed in 1 through 4 above.

If you are calling to report a crime that occurred at some time in the past, or to ask a question, please call the Non-Emergency number of (626) 744-4241.  This direct line to the dispatch center is available 24 hours a day to handle police department calls.

If you need to ask a general information question you can call             
(626) 744-4501