Calling 911 when I think I hear gunshots

So maybe with all the violence going on lately I'm on edge but I'm wondering when should I call 911 when I think I hear gunshots? I think I've heard gunshots twice in the past couple weeks. Including around 9 tonight. I'm pretty damn sure that I did hear gun shots this evening. What is your rule of thumb? When do you call the cops?

First of all, it's 4th of July week. There's gonna be firecrackers everywhere.

Second of all, unless you can see someone shooting and can provide a location, calling 911 to tell them you heard a loud noise can only prevent the dispatcher from taking a call at the same time from someone who actually has materially useful information.

There have been a lot of shootings on Nostrand in the past two weeks, far more than we've had in a couple of years. But, from what I've seen the police response has been stepped up.

Saturday night there were shots fired on Park between Rogers and Nostrand and it seemed like the cops arrived within a couple of minutes, including foot patrol and squad cars.

If we can get through this weekend and the weather breaks hopefully things will calm down again.

If you think you actually heard gun shots you should call 911. I don't think people should feel hesitant to call 911 ever, especially if there is even the possibility of guns.

Clearly there are guns in the neighborhood, and clearly people are being shot.

Last night I thought I heard two gunshots at around 9pm, and I was really startled. When I looked out the window to confirm, I saw they were just two sets of firecrackers near New York and Sterling. Whew!

Also, does anyone have any theories for why there seems to be much more violent activity in Western CH this summer than in the most recent summers? I've lived in CH now for 3 years, and I don't remember so much gun violence on Nostrand. My theory is that b/c of gentrification and development, and the larger police presence, the available territory for the underground economy is shrinking and involved people are encroaching on each other, exacerbating whatever tensions may already exist.

Ok so in the future if I hear gun shots or something I'm 80% sure is gun shots I'm calling the cops.

I don't know what the hell is going on with Nostrand as of late. Maybe as the police clamp down on crime in Eastern Crown Heights it's getting pushed further west? Drug disputes over who gets to sell the arriving hipsters pot and coke? Sudden influx of guns and bullets? Crownheightster I think your on to something.

I'm happy to hear it was only fireworks last night.

Ok so in the future if I hear gun shots or something I'm 80% sure is gun shots I'm calling the cops.

I don't know what the hell is going on with Nostrand as of late. Maybe as the police clamp down on crime in Eastern Crown Heights it's getting pushed further west? Drug disputes over who gets to sell the arriving hipsters pot and coke? Sudden influx of guns and bullets? Crownheightster I think your on to something.

I'm happy to hear it was only fireworks last night.

Good luck with calling the cops. Let us know how that works out.

What's going on is simply summer on Nostrand. Things always escalate when the temperature goes up. It'll settle back down in September. Nostrand is still way better than it was even just a couple of years ago.

Good luck with calling the cops. Let us know how that works out.

What's going on is simply summer on Nostrand. Things always escalate when the temperature goes up. It'll settle back down in September. Nostrand is still way better than it was even just a couple of years ago.

Clearly this isn't just Nostrand Avenue in the summer when other people are saying it's worse than it's been in years plus one of these people is an admin.

So eastbloc when should a person call the cops? Or should we all just ignore violence that goes down and end up with things this like http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/june-27-2013-woman-fatally-stabbed-on-park-pl-between-classon-and-franklin where no one saw anything and no one did anything? I submit we have a duty to take reasonable action to protect you neighbors and ourselves. Including reporting gun fire.

Clearly this isn't just Nostrand Avenue in the summer when other people are saying it's worse than it's been in years plus one of these people is an admin.

So eastbloc when should a person call the cops? Or should we all just ignore violence that goes down and end up with things this like http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/june-27-2013-woman-fatally-stabbed-on-park-pl-between-classon-and-franklin where no one saw anything and no one did anything? I submit we have a duty to take reasonable action to protect you neighbors and ourselves. Including reporting gun fire.

Violence is scary.

The question is "should one be afraid of it?"

I have concluded that measuring violence on a given avenue (or losely defined neighborhood) from one summer to the next is certainly doable, but it isn't real predictive, and therefore not worthy of fear.

Before I begin to be afraid of being a murder victim, I tend to look at citywide stats on the demographics and circumstances of murders, as well as those that look at things like entire Precincts.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/murder_in_nyc_2012.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml

Then, I think about my life and habits, and make a decision as to how at risk I am.

....and whether I should change any of my habits in exchange for a lower risk.

I then consistently decide no changes are required, or possible at this time.

Violence is scary.

The question is "should one be afraid of it?"

I have concluded that measuring violence on a given avenue (or losely defined neighborhood) from one summer to the next is certainly doable, but it isn't real predictive, and therefore not worthy of fear.

Before I begin to be afraid of being a murder victim, I tend to look at citywide stats on the demographics and circumstances of murders, as well as those that look at things like entire Precincts.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/murder_in_nyc_2012.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml

Then, I think about my life and habits, and make a decision as to how at risk I am.

....and whether I should change any of my habits in exchange for a lower risk.

I then consistently decide no changes are required, or possible at this time.

Whynot I know my chances of getting shot are very low. I'm not concerned about getting shot. But when I hear gunshots on or around my block and hear about shootings on a regular basis it does become a concern. Or concern for my neighbors or might be shot. When shootings occur frequently changes are needed.

Whynot I know my chances of getting shot are very low. I'm not concerned about getting shot. But when I hear gunshots on or around my block and hear about shootings on a regular basis it does become a concern. Or concern for my neighbors or might be shot. When shootings occur frequently changes are needed.

I think we all agree shootings and other forms of violence are bad, and if they are to occur, it is best that they occur far, far away.

When they happen close by, we not only stand an increased chance of being an unintended actual victim but also a victim of the fear.

I think we all agree shootings and other forms of violence are bad, and if they are to occur, it is best that they occur far, far away.

When they happen close by, we not only stand an increased chance of being an unintended actual victim but also a victim of the fear.

so does anyone know if nyc has one of those gun shot detectors like other cities have? if so you don't need to call cops.

so does anyone know if nyc has one of those gun shot detectors like other cities have? if so you don't need to call cops.

armchair_warrior said:

so does anyone know if nyc has one of those gun shot detectors like other cities have? if so you don't need to call cops.

I read that they actually don't work all that well in built up areas but I could be wrong.

armchair_warrior said:

so does anyone know if nyc has one of those gun shot detectors like other cities have? if so you don't need to call cops.

I read that they actually don't work all that well in built up areas but I could be wrong.

I call the cops when I see or hear an altercation escalate, especially if I hear words like "I'm gonna kill you" or "I'll be back". I also call the cops if I can provide actual details such as shots fired followed by people running from roof to roof. I also call if I hear shots followed by screams. If I can ID words/screams it's likely I can give details of location.

I never call the cops if I just hear gun shots followed by nothing.

I call the cops when I see or hear an altercation escalate, especially if I hear words like "I'm gonna kill you" or "I'll be back". I also call the cops if I can provide actual details such as shots fired followed by people running from roof to roof. I also call if I hear shots followed by screams. If I can ID words/screams it's likely I can give details of location.

I never call the cops if I just hear gun shots followed by nothing.

Call the cops when you have specific information to provide.

"I heard a loud noise" does not qualify. "Someone's been stabbed on my block" does.

No, we don't have gunshot detectors, and cops on this board have opined before that they're not very useful because responding to victimless gunfire (or firecrackers) is a waste of their time.

Same reason your call to report a loud noise is likely to be ignored.

Call the cops when you have specific information to provide.

"I heard a loud noise" does not qualify. "Someone's been stabbed on my block" does.

No, we don't have gunshot detectors, and cops on this board have opined before that they're not very useful because responding to victimless gunfire (or firecrackers) is a waste of their time.

Same reason your call to report a loud noise is likely to be ignored.

eastbloc said:

Call the cops when you have specific information to provide.

"I heard a loud noise" does not qualify. "Someone's been stabbed on my block" does.

No, we don't have gunshot detectors, and cops on this board have opined before that they're not very useful because responding to victimless gunfire (or firecrackers) is a waste of their time.

Same reason your call to report a loud noise is likely to be ignored.

OK calling to report a probable, or possible gunshot in an neighborhood with gun violence doesn't =/= (doesn't equal) calling to report a loud noise. I have called the cops once before with information before such as "I'm pretty sure I heard gunshots coming from the intersection of Park and Nostrand." Trust me I'm smart enough not to call the cops because I heard a loud noise or saw a shadow in my apartment or cause I spilled my milk.

I think we ALL need to be more proactive in calling 911 if we want to get a hold of this gun violence. I haven't noticed more cops in the area. So I'm adopting my rule of thumb if I'm 90% sure I hear gunshots and can narrow it down to an intersection or half block radius I'm calling 911.

eastbloc said:

Call the cops when you have specific information to provide.

"I heard a loud noise" does not qualify. "Someone's been stabbed on my block" does.

No, we don't have gunshot detectors, and cops on this board have opined before that they're not very useful because responding to victimless gunfire (or firecrackers) is a waste of their time.

Same reason your call to report a loud noise is likely to be ignored.

OK calling to report a probable, or possible gunshot in an neighborhood with gun violence doesn't =/= (doesn't equal) calling to report a loud noise. I have called the cops once before with information before such as "I'm pretty sure I heard gunshots coming from the intersection of Park and Nostrand." Trust me I'm smart enough not to call the cops because I heard a loud noise or saw a shadow in my apartment or cause I spilled my milk.

I think we ALL need to be more proactive in calling 911 if we want to get a hold of this gun violence. I haven't noticed more cops in the area. So I'm adopting my rule of thumb if I'm 90% sure I hear gunshots and can narrow it down to an intersection or half block radius I'm calling 911.

Don't tie up the lines unless you have something to add that is useful.

Don't tie up the lines unless you have something to add that is useful.

With July 4th here you will here lots of sounds that sound like gunshots. Be prepared.