Suffolk police announce new system for non-emergency calls

Suffolk County police are announcing a new phone-reporting system for nonemergency incidents, which officials said they hope will free up resources and speed response times.

The T-Serve unit will document nonemergency calls over the phone so that patrol officers can focus on emergencies and reports that require an immediate response, police said.

Police said the new system started April 25, though it will be officially announced by Police Commissioner Timothy Sini on Wednesday.

County residents can report both criminal and noncriminal incidents — ranging from lost or stolen belongings and car crashes with no injuries to identity theft and vandalism — that do not require a face-to-face meeting with a police officer by calling 631-852-COPS.

The responders will speak to the person and use the provided information to create a police report. The unit works during peak call hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

Reports will be marked for follow-up, police said.

The service is currently only available over the phone, police said, but may later be expanded to allow county residents to make reports online.

In the past, people often called 911, clogging the emergency system, or they would call precincts. Officers would be dispatched to take reports in person when there were no emergencies.

With Ellen Yan