9-1-1 is for emergencies only and sometimes a chance for RCMP to teach a lesson

August 14, 2020
Queens District, Prince Edward Island

News release

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School might be out, but there are still teachable moments. That's what Cst. Louanne McQuaid is calling a recent call-out to a 9-1-1 call that turned out to be a mistake.

Cst. McQuaid responded to the call from RCMP dispatch and when she arrived, she quickly realized it presented the perfect opportunity to show how serious a mistaken call to 9-1-1 could be, and thankfully no jail time was required. As RCMP School Liaison at the school where the girls attend, Cst. McQuaid knew the girls and knew that their family took the situation seriously. She also knew that some humour might help the girls to accept the little lecture that would be part of her visit – and that proved to be the case.

The mother of the girls was on hand for the constable's arrival to explain the situation and offer apologies for their actions. She was very appreciative of the time taken to explain to the girls how important 9-1-1 is and that calling for any reason other than an emergency ties up valuable time of first responders and could mean that an actual emergency isn't responded to as quickly due to being tied up with a fictitious one. She shared the exchange on Facebook and thanked the constable for her time and understanding.

Cst. McQuaid noted that "this is the reason why I joined the RCMP. To make a difference in the lives of children I deal with each day. And to help them understand that while the law is to be followed, officers are only human too and can have a little fun to teach a lesson."

Remember, 9-1-1 is for emergencies. For emergencies only.

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Contact information

Cst. Louanne McQuaid
Queens District RCMP
902-368-9300

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