Alameda Police Department Now Accepts Texts to 911 in an Emergency

Published on February 17, 2020

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PRESS RELEASE

 

 February 17, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:

Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer

510-747-4714

 

Alameda Police Department Now Accepts Texts to 911 in an Emergency

 

Cellular users within Alameda City limits now have the ability to text emergencies to Alameda Police Department’s (APD) Communication Center. Texting is an option when it is unsafe to use your voice to make a 911 call, if you’re unable to speak due to an emergency, or for the hearing or speech impaired. Please read our Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.

 

TEXT TO 911 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

 

How can I contact 911?

Always make a voice call if you can, text if you can’t. When contacting 911 in the event of an emergency, initiating a voice call is always preferred. The tone of the caller’s voice, background noise (yelling, threats, gunfire, etc.), instantaneous responses, and other vital details in a voice call can assist in rendering appropriate aid, updating emergency personnel, and be used as critical evidence in the future (if needed). If the situation does not allow for a voice call, then a text is appropriate.

 

How do I text APD? 
To initiate a text conversation with our 9-1-1 dispatchers, compose a new text and type 9-1-1 into the recipient field, type your emergency and location, and press send.

 

Can I text APD for non-emergency concerns?

No. Please reserve 911 lines for emergencies only. Non-emergency texts received will be directed to call APD’s non-emergency line at 510-337-8340 before having an officer dispatched.

 

Do all cellphone carriers have the ability to text 911?

All members of the Big 4 (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile) have Text-to-911 capabilities. Cricket customers share the AT&T network while MetroPCS customers share the T-Mobile network. All other customers should check with their carriers on Text-to-911's availability.

 

What if I live I Alameda, but my phone is not registered here? Or I don’t live in Alameda, but I am texting here?

As long as you are texting from any covered cellphone within City limits, your messages will be sent to APD. For alternative cities, please contact that agency directly. Text-to-911 will deploy statewide by January 1, 2021.

 

Can I send pictures?

No, Public Safety Answering Points in California are not receiving pictures (multimedia) at this time.

 

Can I text in a different language?
No, translation services are unavailable at this time. Please text in English.

 

What are the limitations to texting 911?  

  • Do not send short message codes, emojis, or acronyms - lol, btw, smh, etc.

  • Location accuracy varies by carrier and cannot pinpoint exact locations. Please provide us with as much information as possible to determine your location.

  • Text messages can take longer to send/receive and may get out of order.

  • Text-to-911 is not available if you are roaming.

  • Text-to-911 services will not be available if the wireless carrier cannot determine a good location of the device sending the message.    

  • Text messages cannot be received if sent in a group message.

  • If Text-to-911 is not available or the message is undeliverable, the texting party will receive an automated reply advising them to make a voice call to 9‑1‑1.

 

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