OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg will direct all emergency calls to 911 from now on.

The city has been working to transition the city’s emergency dispatching to the county’s 911 system for more than a year.

City Manager Stephen Jellie says the city is now working to ensure all community residents, businesses and visitors are aware that 9-1-1 emergency reporting exists and that it must be used to report all emergency situations.

“Since the fall of 1992 Enhanced 9-1-1 telephonic emergency reporting has been available to all residents of the City of Ogdensburg and St. Lawrence County. Dialing 9-1-1 is the most effective method for requesting emergency services for any emergency that threatens life, property and the environment, a press release from the city says.

The statement says 9-1-1 emergency requests for assistance are received at the St. Lawrence County Emergency Services Center in Canton, or the back-up communications center located in Massena.

Professional Emergency Services Dispatchers are on-duty 24 hours per day, every day.

“Placing calls directly to administrative lines at the Police and Fire Departments for emergency situations delays response and will no longer be allowed,” the release says. “Beginning in the very near future, administrative phone lines at the Police and Fire Departments will direct callers to HANG UP and DIAL 9-1-1 if the request is emergency in nature.”

Jellie noted that calling non-emergency lines at the fire and police departments could delay responses.

In addition, the release says the City of Ogdensburg is moving forward with the final segment of transitioning the remaining police dispatching function to the St. Lawrence County Emergency Communications Center.

“All Ogdensburg police cars, fire trucks and ambulances will be radio dispatched and tracked by the St. Lawrence County Emergency Communications Center,” the release says.

To assist with the transition the city offered the following guidelines.

Call the Police Department Non-Emergency Number (315) 393-1551:

• When a crime has already occurred and the offenders are no longer on scene

• For nuisance calls (e.g., barking dogs; landscape and construction noise)

• To obtain information from the Police Department

• To speak with an officer

• For any other non-emergency administrative matter

Call the Fire Department Non-Emergency Number (315) 393-2321:

• To schedule a station tour

• To schedule fire prevention activities

• To obtain information from the Fire Department

• For any other non-emergency administrative matter

Additionally the city shared the following information regarding emergency texts.

St. Lawrence County Emergency Communications Center is equipped to receive and respond to mobile phone “Text-to-9-1-1” messages. It is preferred that you CALL 9-1-1 for emergencies so the dispatcher can ensure you receive the appropriate and timely response of fire responders.

Individuals whom are hearing impaired, or those in situations where it is too dangerous to speak can “Text-to-9-1-1”. Examples include when a crime is in progress and you cannot speak or the caller is injured and cannot speak or you are in a threatening situation and cannot speak.

Enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency Reporting has been available in St. Lawrence County and the City of Ogdensburg for over 25 years; this renewed emphasis is not a new change or development.

The City of Ogdensburg continued to receive some emergency calls for assistance at the Police and Fire Departments, however that practice will cease in the near future and all calls (texts) for emergency services must be requested using the Enhanced 911 Emergency Reporting System that is administered by St. Lawrence County.