Niagara police launch ‘Text with 9-1-1’ service

The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) is now using new technology that will allow people with hearing difficulties to communicate with police via text message.

T9-1-1 is a service available for members of the deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired community.

Those wanting to use the service must register for T9-1-1 with your wireless service provider and have a a cell phone that is capable of sending and receiving text messages.

To engage in a text message chat, users must first place a conventional voice call to 9-1-1. The call from a registered cell phone will be flagged, prompting the emergency operator to begin a text chat with the registered device.

The open call along with a T9-1-1 session enables the operator to hear background sounds and to immediately transition to a voice conversation if necessary.

Police stressed that no cell phone can initiate a text messaging session with a 9-1-1 operator.

NRPS warn that they have no control over the delivery success or timelines of text messaging content and that text messaging by cell phones solely connected to Wi-Fi is not supported by T9-1-1.

For more details about the program, click here.