Is it alright to call the police if your neighbors are fighting outside at 0300.?
Last night I took my dog out to do his business and heard my neighbors having a rather loud discussion. Before I came back inside the fight changes from discussion to loud screams of profanities. I couldn't see what was actually happening but I was worried that the fight was getting out of hand, so I called the police to check the problem out. Next thing I know their house is surrounded by four police cars. I thought that was a little over the top. I unfortunatly don't know my neighbors well and I seem to work opposite shifts then them. They have had loud parties and get togethers and I didn't complain, but this time I was concerned that someone was going to get hurt. I don't think anyone was arrested. After the officers left 45 minutes later everything did seem to quite down and every either left or went to bed. Today the neighbors were out on their porch and they gave me dirty looks, now I am questioning if I did the right thing. What do you think.
jackson2007-08-27T10:11:47Z
Favorite Answer
Your neighbors gave you dirty looks because they know someone called. They might know it is you but maybe they were trying to figure it out.
Yes you have been a noncomplaining neighbor. But if suddenly everybody left or went to bed there was some other sort of issue. Say it was me. I am having a BBQ, dinner party or having a party for whatever reason. It wouldn't happen but what if someone called for even noise. The police show, all are normal adults so the police would just inform me of a complaint and that's that. My guests would not have to leave.
The police were there for 45 minutes? That is a really long time and they would not stay there for that long if there was not a doubt about the situation.
You did the right thing as you thought that someone might be hurt. That is what the police are for and it is always best to err on the side of caution. When you see hoorible things on the news they always have someone who says they "didnt know" but suspected.
It is your home and a place to be at the end of the day. When taking your dog out you should not have to worry about the neighbors. So if you have serious noise at anytime call the police and they will handle it.
Not only is that allright but it is something you should do. Anytime you hear a fight like that call the police!
Better to have the police show up and leave than to have someone get hurt and not have the police show up.
Let them give you a dirty look...they are just guessing. Officers NEVER tell the suspects who called 911. If they spent 45 minutes there then something was going on.
Did they wake you up? You’ve not stated that. You’ve stated that you were outside and that’s why you heard them. If you couldn’t hear it from inside your own house, then it’s none of your business.
Why do people always feel the need to call the police for everything under the sun? When my neighbors are getting under my skin, I go over to their house, knock on the door, and ask them if they could possibly find it in themselves to stop whatever anti social behavior that they’re doing. If they give me some lip, I tell them that I understand that they have problems, but their problems are affecting me. I’m only trying to be civil and if they refuse my reasonable request, I’ll be forced to call the police. Do you know what happens? Sometimes they tell me to get F###ed, but without failure, they always quiet down. Until you visually see somebody being attacked or hear somebody calling for help, there’s absolutely no reason to call the police.
You’d better hope that your neighbors aren’t spiteful. I’m in hillbilly country and if you rat out your neighbors for anything, you’d better get ready for some retaliation.
They were there because it’s procedure. They have to investigate all domestic complaints. They have a battery of questions and the people under investigation aren’t always the most cooperative. How would you like to have the police intrude on a private family matter and then stay for 45 minutes while they hold you hostage in your own house? Use some common sense, stop watching TV, and stop thinking that everybody is going to get killed or hurt.
For those of you that think that you’re doing some good… Have you ever thought about all the times that somebody gets beaten because the fight is escalated due to police involvement? If the Neanderthal is really the wife beater type, the police visit could be enough to send him over the edge, after the police leave of course. You’re not doing the woman much good either. Even if the clown beats the woman and is taken to jail, guess what the woman will do, she’ll just find another clown to beat her. Honestly, I don’t understand men that beat women or women that love abusive men. You stand about as much chance as helping them as you do a bum in the street or an alcoholic. They’re not going to stop until they’re good and done. It’s called a sickness for a reason. Keep your nose out of other people’s business. If it bothers you, go tell them to knock it off. If they refuse, tell them that you’ll call the police because they’re disturbing the peace. I guarantee you that they’ll stop. It also helps Officer John Q. Friendly go about looking for more serious infractions of the law.
It is perfectly alright and you did the right thing. Domestic arguments are extremely unpredictable and dangerous. They may have only been raising their voices at first, but they may well progress to violence and very quickly. That is why several officers responded. As far as your neighbors glaring at you, don't worry about it. Maybe next time they have an argument, they'll stay in the house.
You should definitely call the police for that situation. How would you feel if one of them beat the other one severely and you did nothing when they were just yelling?