The Camden County Freeholder Board recently unveiled a new technology that makes the Camden County Communications Center one of the first 911 Call Centers in New Jersey to have the ability to accept text messaging. The county has collaborated with the state Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services as well as wireless telephone providers to make Text-to-911 a reality.
“It is important for the county to utilize the latest tools to insure the safety of our residents,” said Freeholder Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Department of Public Safety. “It was imperative for us to have this ability, in light of the unknown variables that can affect a victim in a multitude of incidences where using a phone is not an option.”
Residents who may have difficulty making a phone call in an emergency situation can text 911 and receive follow up texts from the county communications center. It is also useful if you have texting capabilities but not phone reception. This service, which works like a regular texting thread, is received in the radio room by a public safety telecommunicator and dispatched once contact has been made.
The communications center has been using the service in a beta format since March and has fielded more than 100 text messages for service. Now the system is live and operating outside of the beta format providing an essential tool for law enforcement. The system can also triangulate text messages to give a radius, not an exact address, from where the communication was created.
Nevertheless, as popular as texting is for standard communication today the Camden County Department of Public Safety is asking that anyone that can use a phone to call should always make that a priority and text only if you are unable to speak to a dispatcher.
“Texting is one of the primary forms of communication today,” Young said. “This is also an effective tool for individuals who are hearing impaired and gives first responders more intelligence on public safety incidents. In short, always call if you can and text if you can’t.”
