Hunter
07/15/22
Recent listening posts sponsored by the Iowa City City Council have seen concerns about race-based 911 calls.
In a release from the city, race-based calls occur when someone calls 911 for racially-motivated reasons, not because a crime has taken place. They occur when a person of color is engaging in normal, daily activities such as relaxing at a park or walking on the sidewalk.
These calls are damaging on multiple levels. The individual who was reported has their life disrupted, causing feelings of anxiety, shame, or discomfort. These interactions can foster unnecessary distrust between community members and the police officers required to respond to all 911 calls, regardless of whether any illegal behavior is reported.
Race-based 911 calls are also illegal. Iowa Code states that making a false report to the police or reporting the occurrence of a crime knowing the act did not occur, or calling 911 knowing that it is not an emergency is a simple misdemeanor.
In the release, Mayor Bruce Teague asked all members of the community to respect each other, let others go about their lives in peace, and save 911 for emergencies.