Call first, post later

In a growing age of technology and social media, it can be easy to share a concern or complaint with a few quick taps on a keyboard. But when it comes to emergencies or suspicious activity, Chrisman Police Chief Tom Dolan has a clear message: “Don’t post. Call.”

In some situations, the person or vehicle in question has already left the area by the time officers are made aware through secondhand social media reports. Without a formal call and report, there’s often no official record, which in turn means no investigation, no follow-up and no accountability.

“We cannot police from Facebook,” Dolan said during a recent city council meeting. “You must call us so we can make the reports and follow through or investigate.”

Dolan’s reminder comes after a series of recent incidents in Chrisman where residents turned to social media to report suspicious behavior or perceived threats, rather than alerting local law enforcement directly and/or immediately.

While community groups on social media platforms like Facebook can be useful tools for spreading information or raising awareness, Dolan emphasized that they can not be used as a replacement for direct communication with police officers or other emergency responders.

“If something doesn’t feel right, if you see someone lurking, hear something suspicious or witness any kind of crime or disturbance, you should call 911 or the police department right away,” he said. “We’re here to help, but we can’t respond if we don’t know it’s happening.”

The delay caused by posting instead of calling can be more serious than residents may realize. Whether it’s a potential prowler, a break-in, a domestic disturbance or even a lost child, time is critical, and officers can respond within moments when a call is made properly.

“Most of the time, we’re only one minute away,” Dolan said. “But we have to know about it in real-time. If someone waits an hour to post on Facebook, we’ve already lost the window to respond effectively.”

Calling 911 or the non-emergency police line does more than bring help to the scene. It also allows dispatchers and officers to:

• Document the incident: Official reports are essential for tracking patterns, gathering evidence and holding individuals accountable.
• Connect the dots: Multiple calls about similar suspicious activity can help law enforcement identify trends or repeat offenders.
• Provide real-time response: Officers are trained to assess, de-escalate and intervene in a variety of situations, but only if they’re made aware.

Dolan urged residents to adopt the “see something, say something” mindset and not be afraid of overreacting. For the safety of the community, officers would rather respond to a call that turns out to be nothing than miss the chance to stop something serious from happening.

Dolan added that while social media posts may feel like a way to inform the community, they should always come after a call to police, not instead of one.

Chrisman residents are encouraged to use the following resources in the event of an emergency or to report suspicious activity:

• In an emergency: Call 911 immediately
• For non-emergencies or general reports: (217) 269-2214, and 911 if after city building hours.

By prioritizing proper reporting, residents can play an active role in keeping Chrisman safe, not just for themselves, but for their neighbors, their families and future generations.