Accidental 911 hang-ups logged over 5,000 times in two eastern iowa counties

A KCRG i9 investigation found that accidental 911 hang-ups are straining dispatch centers in eastern Iowa.

In the first four months of 2026, Johnson County dispatch logged more than 3,300 911 hang-up calls. Deputies were required to respond to 83 percent of them. Dubuque County logged 1,700 hang-up calls during the same period.

Dispatch protocols require dispatchers to attempt to call back any number that disconnects from a 911 call.

"They’re going to call back the number that has called. They’re going to try to get a hold of someone," said Tom Jones of the Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center.

Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy recalled one instance in which his phone dialed 911 after rattling in a cupholder. "We just want people to be aware that this is something that your phone does whether you know it or not and it does kind of drag our resources a little bit," Kennedy said.

The report does not include specific data for Cedar Rapids or Linn County dispatch centers. Residents in those areas rely on the same regional emergency system.