The Highland Park Department of Public Safety has added a new communication tool to its dispatch center: Text to 9-1-1. “Call if you can - Text if you can’t” is the slogan developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to describe this newest form of 911 notification. Text to 911 is designed to assist those who are hearing or speech impaired, and those individuals who simply – due to the nature and circumstances of the emergency – are unable to make a voice call to 911.
Voice calls to our 911 dispatch center remain the preferred form of notification for our communications specialists (dispatchers). Text to 911 is not intended to replace the reporting of an emergency by phone. That said, there may be instances where a voice call is not practical or safe given the nature of the emergency, the location of the victim, and/or location of the offender (examples include home invasion, assault family violence, or residential/business burglary in progress). “HPDPS has joined the growing list of agencies who have the ability to receive Text to 911 messages,” said Rick Pyle, Director of Public Safety, “Additionally, it allows for two-way communication so our dispatchers may continue to gather as much information as possible about the emergency.” Within the town limits of Highland Park, the HPDPS dispatch center is capable of receiving Text to 911messages from the following wireless carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Sending a text message to 911:
- Open the text messaging application within your smartphone and enter “911” in the “To” field
- Initially, the text message to “911” should be brief, but contain vital location such as: 1) Location of the emergency; and 2) Type of emergency
- After typing the emergency information into the free form text box, press the “send” button
- Upon successful receipt of the Text to 911 message, a dispatcher will reply to your message. Note: Placing your phone on silent may prevent anyone from being alerted to your location, or that you’ve notified 911 by a text message
- The dispatcher may need additional information about the emergency. Be prepared to respond to the dispatcher
- When using Text to 911, do not send a “group text” as this may prevent the message being delivered to 911
- Do not text and drive
The following considerations are important when utilizing the Text to 911 service in Highland Park:
- A cellular data plan with text messaging is required to send a Text to 911 message
- Limitations of the cellular network architecture (physical location of antenna), coverage area, signal strength, and connectivity may hinder the successful delivery of a Text to 911 message to the HPDPS dispatch center
- The initial text message should include the exact location of your emergency. Wireless data does not provide your precise location when the Text to 911 message is sent
- If Text to 911 is not available in your area, a bounce-back message from the wireless carrier should be delivered. If a bounce-back message is received, a voice call to 911 is required
- Videos, photos, or emojis cannot be sent to 911 at this time
- The Text to 911 communication, once initiated with an HPDPS dispatcher, will remain open until the communication is closed by the dispatcher
Those in need of emergency public safety services in Highland Park, whether police, fire, or EMS, are encouraged to place voice calls to 911 in an emergency; however, Text to 911 is now a notification option for those persons who need to communicate to 911 via a text message.
All information provided by the Highland Park Department of Public Safety