The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has a new way to communicate emergencies to 911 dispatch.
The Text to 911 platform will allow mobile users to text dispatchers in emergency situations.
"Sharing media during a conversation is entirely voluntary," Sheriff Tom Boatwright stated. "Text to 911 should be used strictly in emergencies when making a call is not feasible—such as for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, or in situations where speaking aloud could pose a risk."
The service was made possible through a partnership with Monroe County E-911 and the sheriff's office.
Text messages, along with photos, location information and real-time translations may be received.
Boatwright said the dispatch team underwent extensive training and preparation to effectively use the platform.
The sheriff's office recommends including your location and the nature of your emergency in your initial text.
It's illegal to prank text 911 or text false reports.
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