What is the significance of 911 Call Data in Durham?

• A. Over 50% of calls are violent crimes.
• B. It shows most calls are non-violent, indicating a mismatch between police training and community needs.
• C. It confirms that all calls require emergency medical response.
• D. It highlights the need to adjust training and response for non-violent calls.

Answer: (D)

Interpreting Durham’s 911 call data helps public health and safety leaders see what kinds of situations responders actually handle and where the system may be misaligned with community needs. If a large share of calls involve non-violent issues, welfare checks, or mental health or social-service needs rather than violent crime, the strongest takeaway is to adjust training and response protocols accordingly. This means equipping responders with de-escalation skills, behavioral health awareness, and clear pathways to connect people with appropriate services, including mobile crisis teams or civilian responders, rather than relying on traditional police response for every non-violent call. The goal is to use resources more effectively, improve outcomes for residents, and reduce unnecessary policing in non-violent situations. The other statements either overstate how many calls are violent, imply every call is a medical emergency, or suggest a mismatch without pointing to a concrete policy action.