Guidelines for Using 9-1-1 


When should I call 911?
Dial 911 in an emergency or to report information to the police. If you are not sure, call 911 and let us determine if the situation requires an emergency response. If we determine your call does not meet the emergency guidelines, we will supply you with the telephone number to call the agency that can provide the services needed.

911 is a phone number that is used to get the police to respond to anything that has to do with safety. It does not have to be an emergency in progress. For example, you would call 911 to report an auto burglary or graffiti that was just discovered but happened a week ago. When dialing 911 a professionally trained call taker receives your call.

911 can be called free of charge from any phone including a cell phone. The dispatcher (the person answering the call) can quickly see where the caller is and can send a police officer to your location even without the caller giving any information about where they are or what is happening. For example, if someone breaks into your home at night and you are afraid to talk out loud for fear that you might be heard, the dispatcher can send a police officer to your residence to check on your welfare without your even saying a word. Please note, cell phone users must give the dispatcher their location.

Anonymously Reporting Crime in Oklahoma City?Call 231-2121

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

231-2121 is also an emergency phone number that goes to the same place as 911, only the dispatcher, the person who answers the call, can't see who or where the caller is calling from. The caller can remain anonymous (unknown) when using this number.

The 231-2121 number may be good if someone sees gang members that live next door drinking and fighting. The caller may want the police to stop them before there is trouble but does not want the police to come to their door so that the gang members know who called in the complaint.

Remember, the problem with calling the anonymous 231-2121 number is that if you give the wrong location, the police will never know how to contact you to get the correct address. They also cannot locate you in case of emergencies.

The 231-2121 number is a great tool to use if you want to report suspicious activity but do not want to be identified with the report, but use it wisely. Do not use this number instead of 911 if you want immediate attention from the police.

Graffiti Removal

Graffiti is not a victimless crime. It hurts property values, scares away shoppers, and creates a climate of lawlessness that often leads to more serious crime. The mere presence of graffiti can instill fear, making people feel trapped, powerless, and intimidated in their own homes. When graffiti exists in a neighborhood, prospective business and homeowners look elsewhere to live and work.

It is important to move quickly to report, document and clean up graffiti vandalism. Speedy clean up makes a repeat offense less likely. Most vandals tire of wasting their paint and time when no one can see their tag (artwork) for more than a day of two.

When "taggers" know that neighborhoods are watching more closely, they don't return for fear of being caught and going to jail.

What you can do to help
  • If you see Graffiti in progress call 911!!
  • If you remove it yourself, take pictures first
  • Remove graffiti immediately
  • Community Action Agency can remove it for you, call 232-0199
  • Form a volunteer graffiti removal crew in your neighborhood
  • Talk to your kids. Let them know that graffiti is a crime and why it is bad
  • Sponsor clean ups
Graffiti Removal: Oklahoma City municipal code states that it is the resposibility of the property owner to remove graffiti from their property. The Community Action Agency will remove graffiti free of charge.

Graffiti Removal from a Public Utility or Phone Switch Box: If the graffiti is painted on a public utility pole, utility equipment box or telephone company relay box, call the customer service department of the utility company that is responsible for that equipment. They will send someone out to remove the graffiti.

Community Action Agency Phone Numbers

Central Office                                                                (405) 232-0199
City County District Center                                           (405) 769-3346
Northwest District Center                                             (405) 525-2468


It is important to note that the city will remove graffiti at no charge to the property owner, but the city is required by state law to wait 20 days after the initial notice of code violation to allow the property owner to remove the graffiti themselves. After a property has been served with one notice of code violation for graffiti, no further notice will be issued. The city crew will remove any future incidence of graffiti from the same property as it is reported.

If a citizen witnesses graffiti in progress, they should call 911 and report it. Getting caught is also a successful deterrent to vandals.