(CBS) — Did you hear it today — the talk around the cooler about the Chicago police not responding anymore to 9-1-1 calls that are not emergencies?

It’s a new policy that only if a crime is being committed — or about to be committed — only then will police respond. Too much time and money being wasted, calls about theft and children misbehaving. The mayor wants to stop the waste.

I get it. What I don’t get, excuse me, is announcing the policy, publicly declaring it, causing people to think when calling the police that the thing to say is: Big trouble this instant. Even if it’s not true.

A woman said it yesterday, and she’s in trouble. But what about thousands of others who may try it? Not good. So, Mister Mayor, the next time you have to have a tough new policy, have it. But don’t tell everybody how to get around it.