Kingston Police Joins First-Ever Provincewide Campaign to Combat 9-1-1 Misuse

The Kingston Police has joined the first-ever provincewide campaign to tackle 9-1-1 misuse, an issue that continues to strain emergency services. The Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC) has launched the "When Every Second Counts" campaign aimed at reducing non-emergency 9-1-1 calls and educating the public on proper use of 9-1-1. 

“9-1-1 is for life-threatening or urgent emergencies, yet we continue to see calls made for reasons ranging from minor inconveniences to non-emergency situations that can be handled through other channels,” said Cst. Anthony Colangeli “Calls for lost items, noise complaints, or even pocket dials take time away from real emergencies. It’s critical that we ensure 9-1-1 lines remain open for those in urgent need.”

Across Ontario, police services report that nearly half of all 9-1-1 calls are for non-emergencies, including accidental dials, hang-ups, and frivolous inquiries.

“Kingston Police is committed to ensuring our residents have access to the right information and resources,” said Cst. Anthony Colangeli “By participating in this campaign, we are helping provide education on when to call 9-1-1 and when to use non-emergency numbers, so that emergency services remain available for those who truly need them.”

As part of the "When Every Second Counts" campaign, residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with alternative non-emergency numbers such as the Kingston Police non-emergency line 613-549-4660.

For more information about the campaign and resources on proper emergency call usage, visit https://www.wheneverysecondcounts.ca/