July 1996 a dust storm blew in and at least 20 people called 9-1-1 to report aliens. Yes, the dust storm did look exactly like the one in the movie Independence Day that was just released. No, aliens were not invading.
Police despatch in the UK.
Had someone call in because 2 squirrels were fighting in her back garden “no, we don’t arrest squirrels.”
On a similar vein, had a recent immigrant call, had a strange & deadly creature in the back garden. On arrival, turns out to be a hedgehog.
Also had woman hysterically call in about a snake in her toilet. Turned out to be big poo !
Probably the dumbest one I got as an EMT was when we got called out to a nursing home for a patient that had been non verbal for about 7 years. We were dispatched for “patient is moaning slightly less than usual”.
I’m not a dispatcher but I can imagine the dispatcher thought this would take the cake.. I worked on the road for awhile and the guy I roomed with was a complete moron. He called 911 to ask if there were any fireworks in town that weekend since it was the 4th of July. He tried to explain to me, it is a public service directory so as long as you say “this is not an emergency” they’ll be able to answer other questions.
Seriously, dumbest guy I ever met.