Sheriff Promoting Text-to-911 Option For Emergency Help

(KNSI) – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is reminding Minnesotans if they need help and can’t dial 911; they can text 911. Public safety officials say the service has been around for two to three years, but it’s a technological advancement that some may not know exists.

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck says to call if you can, text if you can’t.

“It’s for those situations where people have needed help, but they can’t pick up the phone and make that voice call because maybe somebody would hear them, or any number of reasons that they can’t make the voice call. Now text-to-911 is available so, that we can still get that information and get that help coming.”

He says the ability to text 911 has an advantage for those with a hearing disability. Sheriff Heck says The problem with texting 911 is that it’s slower and a little more cumbersome than calling 911. He says there are two things to remember to tell dispatch if you need to text for help.

“I would say the number one thing you want to provide is your location. And then the number two thing would be, what’s the nature of your emergency? What kind of help you need? Once we get that basic information, we can then start formulating some questions, and we’ll get the information we need out of that text exchange.”

Sheriff Hecks says the department gets a handful of texts to 911 each month, but it isn’t used often. He says that’s because a telephone voice conversation is the most efficient way to get the information to first responders, but texting is an option for those who need it.

Sheriff Heck is at a law enforcement conference in San Deigo where he is learning about the latest advancements and procedures for 911 dispatchers.

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