 The Code Red Alert System is a fairly new tool that Beltrami County Emergency Management has been using. While it has mainly been used for things like severe weather, last Thursday it was used for public safety, telling residents to stay indoors and lock their doors because police were searching for a suspect that had a gun. Shortly after the alert was issued, Beltrami County Dispatch was flooded with calls from residents that were concerned and had questions. Those that received the notification should look to local, reputable media sources for more information. We do our best to contact the media sources that are in our local area and we share information that we can. The police department wants to discourage residents from calling dispatch for questions because it ties up lines and could possibly prevent someone with an emergency from getting through to the dispatcher. We would ask that those receiving that notification don't call our dispatch center to try to get more information because they can't get more information, they're not on scene, and it only overloads their already hectic work environment. Mastin says that if you have questions it's best to look to a reliable source such as local media websites and Facebook pages. He also recommends the Beltrami County Emergency Management's social media pages as a good way to get more information. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.