Yes and no. Some operators are very well trained and some not so much. Some will have your best interest in mind. Some will have their own liability in mind.
On New Years Eve a woman had this question come crashing down on her in Oklahoma. Her husband died the week before and a creepy guy had been hanging around since. New Years Eve the creep returned with a friend and a 12-inch knife trying to break into her house. She put her three-month old son in the crib, got her shotgun and pistol and called 911 (read the transcripts and story here). The phone call goes on for 21 minutes. She is asking the 911 operator if she can shoot the guy if he comes in. The operator says she can’t tell her that. Later the operator reveals that she wanted to help the mother, but because of policy couldn’t tell her to shoot someone. The poor mother had to shoot the creepy guy to protect herself and her son. The creep ended up dying. My heart goes out to the young mother that had to kill someone, but I’m glad she and her son are okay.
There are two reasons you shouldn’t trust everything a 911 operator is telling you. The first is the story above. Obviously if someone is stocking you and breaks into your house with a 12-inch knife he isn’t there to help you. Most of us would say that shooting the creep was necessary. The 911 operator was limited to her policy, which was set to limit the liability of her department and then help people.
The other reason you shouldn’t always trust everything a 911 operator says is because the operator isn’t there. No matter how well you describe what is going on the operator will not have the complete picture. The operator will give you the best answer they can with the information they have. No one can say what you should do, except you.
Learn what you should and can do to protect yourself. If you intend to have a gun for self-defense you should get training from multiple sources. Continue to read blogs like this one and ask people that are more knowledgeable then you.
Stay Safe,
Ben