This Peninsula Police Dept. Just Announced 'Text to 911' Service

BURLINGAME, CA — The Burlingame Police Department Public Safety 9-1-1 Center is equipped to receive and respond to mobile phone SMS Text-to-9-1-1 messages. This service is available for use by the hearing and speech-impaired members of the community, or those in a situation where it is too dangerous to make a voice call to 9-1-1.

The Burlingame Dispatchers are trained and ready to assist callers who, for whatever reason, are unable to call 9-1-1. The benefits to citizens are significant especially in cases when the caller cannot communicate verbally. Examples include not only the hearing-impaired, but also when a crime is in progress, the caller is facing domestic abuse, or the caller is injured and cannot speak.

All phones or devices must include a text or data plan with a wireless carrier (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile) to send a text to 9-1-1. If your carrier does not support 9-1-1 texting at this time, or if you are in a location that cannot send or receive text messages, you will receive a message advising you to call 911 directly.

Please do not text to 911 to test whether or not you have this service.

Using the text to 9-1-1 service is only recommended if it is the only option and making a voice call to 9-1-1 is not possible. Remember to Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t.

— SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY: Burlingame Police / Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch