Over the past year, the Saskatchewan RCMP received over 350,000 calls to their Divisional Operational Communications Centre. The calls ranged from serious incidents regarding matters of public safety to false alarms to misdials. Not all of the calls they received, however, were emergencies.  

Monday, the RCMP released their top 10 calls that they say missed the mark in 2023. Here is the list from the RCMP: 

10. Rocky’s in the House - An individual called 911 to complain that their friend hit them in the face during their boxing match. 
9. Bug alert - 911 dispatchers received a call from a person saying that wasps were getting into their house and they wanted an officer to help them remove them. 
8. What-a-mess - A frustrated parent called 911 complaining that their child wouldn’t clean their room. 
7. Beep, beep - A caller advised that their smoke detector’s battery was low and requested an RCMP officer pick some up for them. 
6. Sunshine - An individual called 911 asking if they could park their car on the opposite side of the street to avoid the sun hitting their leather interior. 
5. We’re in this toget-hair - An individual called 911 asking for a hair salon’s phone number so the caller could book a haircut. 
4. Hangry - A caller advised that their bag of chips got stuck in the vending machine and they were hoping an officer would come and help and get the chips unstuck. 
3. Buzz off - A concerned individual called 911 to advise that their campsite was being invaded by bugs and that they had no bug spray. 
2. Grass is always greener - A frustrated individual called to complain that their grass wasn’t cut properly by the person they’d hired. 
1. Order up - An individual called to complain that the smell of the deep-fried rink food was too strong. 

“As entertaining as some of these calls are, we want to remind everyone that 911 is for emergencies and emergencies only,” said Lee Rosin, a recruiter for the Saskatchewan RCMP Operational Communications Centre. “When I’m answering calls that aren’t an emergency, it means I’m not available for someone else who really does need potentially life-saving help.” 

The work done by the Divisional Operational Communications Centre was recognized last year as well. The manager, Jocelyn James, was selected as the RCMP’s National Operational Communications Centre Commander of the Year. Several call-takers and dispatchers were also presented with the Sask911 Excellence in Teamwork Award, and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Canada Team Award for their response during the tragic events in Weldon, and at James Smith Cree Nation in September of 2022.