What should you do if a caller is reporting a crime in progress?

When a caller is reporting a crime in progress, the most effective and critical action is to quickly gather relevant information while keeping the caller on the line. This approach allows the telecommunicator to obtain essential details such as the nature of the crime, the location, descriptions of any suspects or vehicles involved, and any potential injuries.

Simultaneously, this information is relayed to the appropriate law enforcement units to ensure they can respond immediately. Maintaining communication with the caller is vital, as they may have additional information or may be in need of reassurances and instructions on their safety during the event. This method not only optimizes the response time of law enforcement but also provides support to the caller, who may be in a highly stressful situation.

Other options, such as asking the caller to call back after the incident or redirecting them to a police station, are impractical as they would delay critical assistance and potentially worsen the situation. Providing a crime report form would also be inappropriate, as immediate action and response are priorities in an ongoing incident.