Pinellas Sheriff: 911 vs. Non-Emergency Line Use

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is reminding Dunedin residents of the correct procedures for contacting emergency services. Understanding when to call 911 versus the non-emergency line helps ensure faster response times for critical situations.

The 911 system connects callers directly to law enforcement, fire rescue, and emergency medical services for immediate emergencies. This includes crimes in progress, fires, critical medical situations and serious vehicle crashes. If a resident is unsure if a situation is an emergency, the Sheriff's Office advises calling 911. The call taker will assess the need for emergency assistance.

For situations that do not require immediate intervention, such as reporting non-progressing crimes or seeking general information, residents can call the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office non-emergency number: 727-582-6200. Using this number for non-urgent matters keeps 911 lines open for those needing immediate help.

Additionally, the Sheriff's Office reminds the public that email addresses submitted to the office are public record and subject to release upon public records requests. Individuals who wish to keep their email address private should contact the office by telephone or postal mail to P.O. Drawer 2500, Largo, FL 33779-2500.