Silent 911 Call Procedure

[snopes]

http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/silent911.asp

[blinkingblythe]

The problem with the police part is that cell phone keypads are usualy programmed to make beep noises by default that the criminal can hear, and in a situation like this, people often don't have the foresight or even the knowledge or time to wade through menus (beeping and clicking along the way) to shut this off. And a DV victim often has the abuser very close or standing right there, so trying to work a keypad in that situation is out of the question. I thought when 911 is dialed, they assume the worst and send the police over if they
get a silent or hang-up call.

[blinkingblythe]

I would hope that the standard procedure across
the country is to assume the worst and send the police if they get a 'silent' or hangup call. Trying to go through menus with the phone making loud beeps or audiable clicks (which also happens when you try to get to the menu to shut these noises off) is not an option when the killer/abuser/rapist is nearby.