[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: A 'standard' set by AT&T for the
> operating companies was to use '2121' or '2131' as well. The last four
> digits were to preferably end in '1' and be repetitive. PAT]n
In Phila, before 911, police was 231-3131. When 911 came in, they kept the old number and said to use that for minor police calls (ie dog parking, traffic light out) and only use 911 for serious emergencies. But everyone just used 911 and 231-3131 was dropped. Some cities have instituted another number (311) for low grade calls, but I don't know if it is successful.
The Philadelphia 911 system badly failed when a young kid was brutally murdered. Several people called 911 to report the attack, but the overall computer system didn't take it as a critical call and police came out way too late. One problem was that all dispatchers were poorly trained and they all handled calls citywide rather than a specific area as they used too. Because of that they had no idea of multiple calls coming in. The family of the victim said if the city properly upgraded the system they would not sue and the city did so.