Every year the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Divisional Operational Communications Centre releases its top ten calls that missed the mark and 2023 had some unique ones.
At number 10 is the 911 call from a person who said their friend hit them in the face during their boxing match. One individual called 911 to ask if they could park their car on the opposite side of the street to avoid the sun hitting their leather interior.

In second spot, a frustrated individual complained that their grass wasn’t cut properly by the person they had hired. Number one from the 2023 top ten was a person who called 911 to complain that the smell of the deep-fried rink food was too strong.

Recruiter for the RCMP Operational Communications Centre, Lee Rosin, says, “As entertaining as some of these calls are, we want to remind everyone that 911 is for emergencies and emergencies only. 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.”

Here are the top 10 calls that “missed the mark” in 2023:

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.

If you have a report to make, contact your local RCMP detachment or by calling 310-RCMP from anywhere in the province.