Cache County residents can now text public safety departments

The county-wide public safety dispatch center at the Logan City Police Department has recently implemented text-to-911 for Cache County residents. When a person texts 911, their message goes through the same technology as a phone call would. From there, a dispatch operator is then able to ask where they are and what type of emergency it is.

This method of communication is in its infancy in Utah. It’s part of a statewide program called “Next Generation 911 Rollout,” which is currently operating in Cache County Utah. Rich, Box Elder and Franklin counties will have this feature as soon as they get the technology to do so.

According to a Report to Congress explaining the cost and implementation of this new way of communication, the Next Generation 911 rollout “will lead to faster response and more lives and property saved— and will make both the public and first responders themselves safer.”

The reasoning behind this additional way of contacting a 911 dispatcher through text is partly for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

According to a press release from the Logan City Police Department, this is a scenario in which it is appropriate to text 911 instead of calling. It may also be necessary to text instead of call if the emergency is a kidnapping, active shooting or a domestic violence situation. Text-to-911 can still trace a persons phone to locate where they are at.

However, Laurilee Tarbet, the 911 Operations Supervisor at the Logan City Police Department, encourages residents of Cache County to “call if you can and text if you can’t.”

Calling is still the best way to get ahold of a 911 dispatcher, but if circumstances would be more dangerous making a call, texting can still send help.