LPD debuts new non-emergency number phone tree

The Lubbock Police Department will debut its new non-emergency number phone tree on Monday, Nov. 14, in an effort to help better direct citizens to services in non-emergency situations.

The new phone tree will be attached to the department's non-emergency number, 806-775-2865, and will give individuals options to speak with several departments for non-emergency situations.

Examples of non-emergency situations include potholes, street lights that are out, loose animals and a host of other scenarios citizens experience on a daily basis that don't require a police officer's immediate attention.

Captain Leath McClure said that, on average, there are over 860,000 calls made annually to Lubbock dispatch, which typically has only three of four dispatchers on any given shift.

Of those calls made, only a small fraction were actually 911 emergency calls.

"We're trying to free up our dispatchers as much as possible so they can devote their time to those officers especially as we move into the new building," McClure said.

The public is still encouraged to make calls to 911 for emergency situations and to use the online systems or make in-person reports for other non-emergency situations. Only reports and forms are available through LPD's website, https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/police-department/reports-and-forms.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock police debut new non-emergency number phone tree