Dispatchers Accepting Text Messages – Sort Of

The announcement today that the Amherst (Ohio) Police Department dispatchers are now accepting text messages has a futuristic ring to it. But a closer reading of the technology shows the agency is taking a lower-tech approach to connecting with smartphones. The department hopes to tap into a younger group of people who use text messaging, and will be putting up posters about the program in local junior high schools and high schools. Police chief Joseph Kucirek said in a press release, “Your tips and non-emergency questions can be sent directly to the dispatcher on duty who has the ability to respond as time permits.” To implement the text messaging capability, the department ported one of its existing detective bureau telephone numbers to a cellular phone. The phone’s text messaging account is then accessed by a desktop computer in the comm center. [This capability is available using iMessage on an iPhone, but it’s unknown if this is being used by APD.] Kucirek included warnings that emergencies should still be reported by a 911 call, never to text while driving, and prank or malicious texts would be traced. He also told texters, “When you do text our dispatch center, please give the dispatcher several minutes to respond. Kucirek told texters that if they don’t get a response in “a reasonable amount of time, please call one of our non-emergency phone lines.” Read the full story here.