Reporting Crime

Easton Police PatchEmergencies

The Easton Police Department is dispatched by the Northampton County 911 Center. If the incident you are reporting is an emergency and police response is urgent, dial 911 to access a dispatcher. Be concise in your description of the incident and answer the dispatcher's questions as accurately as possible. In certain circumstances, a dispatcher may ask you to stay on the line to give more information as the incident and subsequent police response unfolds. Examples of emergency incidents include crimes that are in progress or about to happen, and ones that have resulted in serious personal injury, property damage, or property loss. Situations in which the suspect(s) may still be at the scene and suspicious activity is occurring also would qualify as emergency 911 calls for service.

Some specific examples of 911 calls for service are:

  • Fights, assaults, etc
  • Homicides
  • Burglary in progress
  • Robbery
  • Abductions
  • Flashlight beams in a closed business
  • Flashlight beams in a home if the residents are away
  • Domestic violence
  • Child abuse
  • Elder abuse
  • Sounds of gunshots
  • Screams for help
  • Sounds of breaking glass
  • Explosions
  • Motor vehicle accident
  • Persons displaying or threatening with weapons
  • Dumping of hazardous substances or fuel spills
  • Road hazards that require immediate attention
  • Graffiti in progress or other acts of vandalism in progress
  • Person(s) trying to break into vehicles or buildings
  • Person driving while D.U.I.
  • Person threatening suicide or personal injury to themselves
  • Carrying or wearing bloody clothing
  • Rape or sexual assault in progress

Non-Emergencies

The Northampton County 911 Center also dispatches non-emergency calls for service to the Easton Police Department. This number is 610-759-2200. By having a non-emergency phone listing, calls that are not an emergency will be dispatched but the emergency 911 call-takers and dispatchers will be more available to handle true emergency calls for service. Non-emergency calls for service are those that don't involve serious personal injury, property damage or loss, there are no suspect(s) on scene or likely to return, and no immediate emergency response is necessary. If there is any doubt as to whether or not a call for service is an emergency, it is better to err on the side of safety and dial 911.

Some examples of calls for service which could be considered non-emergencies are:

  • Burglaries where the suspect(s) are gone from the scene
  • Stolen checks or credit cards
  • Lost property
  • Stolen vehicle
  • Theft of property, no suspect(s) present
  • Noise nuisances
  • Road hazards that don't require immediate attention
  • Graffiti or vandalism not in progress
  • Car alarms
  • Underage drinking
  • Loitering
  • Panhandling
  • Harassment by communication
  • Public drunkenness
  • Scams
  • Reports of ongoing child or elder abuse

Regardless of the emergency or non-emergency status of a call for police service, the ability of the police to solve crimes, apprehend suspects, or resolve a situation depends on the thoroughness and accuracy of the information supplied to the 911 Center call-taker / dispatcher. The following is a checklist of information that you may be asked to provide when calling for police:

  • Type of Crime
  • Location-exact address or landmark (park or school name, business, etc...)
  • Time of occurrence-in progress or not.
  • Presence of weapons.
  • Number of persons with injuries and types of injuries.
  • Vehicle information-make, model, color, year, license state and number.
  • Suspect(s) information-race, gender, age, height, weight, hair color, hair length and style, eye color, facial hair, clothing type and color, shoe style and color.
  • Direction of suspect(s) or vehicle departure.

Easton Police Department Tip Line

Residents may call the Police Departments Tip Line at 610-250-6635 to report any non-emergency suspicious activity. Callers may remain anonymous on this line however follow up investigation with a complainant greatly assists detectives in resolving these cases.

Mayor's Clean and Safe Hotline

Residents may also call the Mayor's clean and safe hotline at 610-250-6737 to report any non-emergency suspicious activity.