In one of Moore County’s smallest communities, leaders are sending a clear but friendly reminder: call 911 during emergencies — not the mayor.
During a recent Taylortown Town Council meeting, Mayor Bridget Cotton addressed a growing issue that highlights both the town’s close-knit culture and its growing pains. Some residents have been calling her directly instead of dialing 911 when something urgent happens.
“I am the mayor,” Cotton explained, “but that does not mean I can tell the officers what to do or where to go. They have their own rules and laws and policies that they follow. I can’t interfere with that.”
🚨 Why Calling 911 Matters in Taylortown
Police Chief Daniel Smith and Assistant Chief Anthony Monahan emphasized that dialing 911 is not just the correct step — it’s the fastest.
“When calling 911, the response is one to three minutes max,” Smith said. “By the time the call comes to Town Hall and then is relayed to us, it could be five to ten minutes.”
In an emergency, those extra minutes matter.
911 dispatchers also track data — including call volume, time of day, and location. That information helps Taylortown’s growing police department understand where resources are needed most. It also plays a critical role when applying for federal and state grants.
Monahan noted that if calls don’t go through official dispatch channels, they aren’t recorded in reporting systems. That could impact funding and support for the department.
“It helps us for all reporting from every federal agency grants or anything for assistance,” Monahan said. “If you are calling someone else and they call us to respond, that does not get accounted for.”
👮♂️ Community Policing — But the Right Way
Taylortown has been expanding its police force with a focus on community policing — building trust and strengthening relationships between officers and residents.
That trust may be part of the reason residents feel comfortable calling town leaders directly.
But Chief Smith says community policing works best when everyone follows the same system.
“Community policing is big because without the community our job is hard enough,” Smith said. “Everyone has to be on the same page and have the same common goal to protect lives and property.”
He also acknowledged that response times may not have always met expectations in the past, but says the department now holds itself to a higher standard — promising quick emergency responses and follow-ups on non-emergencies within 24 hours.
📞 Here’s What To Do
- Emergency? Call 911 immediately.
- Non-emergency tip? Call the Taylortown Community Watch line at (910) 673-2765.
In a small town like Taylortown, relationships matter. But when seconds count, the fastest path to help is still three simple numbers.
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