Text 911 Service Launches In Martinez

MARTINEZ, CA -- Those experiencing an emergency in the city of Martinez may now send a text message to 911 if they are unable to make a voice call. The Martinez Police Department recently announced the addition of "Text-to-9-1-1" services for its community members and anyone else who experiences an emergency while within the Martinez city limits.

The service is primarily for use in specific situations when calling 911 is not an option, according to a news release. These situations may include when a speech- or hearing-impaired individual is experiencing an emergency; in the event of a crime such as a home invasion when speaking might give away the location of a person hiding, or in an abduction situation; or in a domestic violence situation where it is not safe to make a voice call.

Here is how to text 911 in an emergency situation in Martinez:

• Enter the number 911 in the “To” field.
• The first text message to 911 should contain the location of the emergency and what the emergency is, if possible.
• Keep messages brief and concise.
• Do not use abbreviations or slang, as this could lead to misunderstandings.
• Answer the questions the dispatcher is asking as quickly and concisely as possible.

If the sender is out of jurisdiction or their text is not received by a dispatch center, they will receive a bounce-back message advising them to make a voice call to 911.

Something to keep in mind about texting 911, according to police, is that it is not always instantaneous, meaning there may be a delay in the text being received by dispatch which could cause a delay for emergency response. Additionally, location information is not always reliable.

The Martinez Police Department says the service has been tested with the four major cellular providers --AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon -- and MPD personnel have been trained on how to utilize this new system to better serve the community in times of an emergency.

Citizens should note that a text data plan is required to text 911, and that it is not safe to text and drive.

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