Kicker - Toy emergency

MARY REICHARD, HOST: If you have an emergency in New Zealand, the number you dial is not 9-1-1, it’s 1-1-1. And that’s something children there learn at an early age by the age of 4.

That’s exactly the age of a young man who called the emergency number earlier this week.

DISPATCH: This is police, where is the emergency?
BOY: Hello.
DISPATCH: Hello.
BOY: Police lady?
DISPATCH: Yes, what’s going on?
BOY: I’ve got some toys for you.
DISPATCH: You’ve got some toys for me?!

Moments later, dad grabbed the telephone and confirmed that there was no emergency.

But the dispatcher thought somebody should probably see those cool toys. So she radioed for any available officers with a little time on their hands.

DISPATCH: Comms call to any units free. There is a 4-year-old there who is wanting to show police his toys, over.
OFFICER: Yeah, why not. I’ll attend to.
DISPATCH: Roger, thank you.

The officer confirmed that the boy did in fact have some pretty cool toys! The officer also showed him his police car and turned the lights on for him.

And he took the opportunity to have an educational talk about the proper use of the emergency hotline.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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