Durham 911 takes text messages

[supernova]

DURHAM, N.C. — On Wednesday, Durham will become the first city in the state where residents can use their cell phones to send a text message about an emergency to 911.

If they can't make a phone call, Verizon Wireless customers can text messages of up to 160 characters to 911. Dispatchers need to know the location and nature of the emergency.

"Texting does have its purposes and its place where it can make a difference," said James Soukup, director of the Durham Department of Emergency Communications.

.....

"Instead of people having to describe a suspect to us, they can take a photograph of him or the license plate of the car and send it to the 911 center, and we can send it out to computer terminals and the police center as well," Soukup said.


http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9945706/


Interesting that they would focus on the evidence collecting aspect first. But I think this is a great thing to have an additional tool.

[mh74562]

1. delete

[laureloak]

2. Excellent!