Police now accepting 911 emergency texts


Rhode Islanders in an emergency can now text 911 to contact authorities.

After five years in the pipeline, the $750,000 system is online after undergoing testing last week. According to Lt. Col. Kevin Barry, acting superintendent of the state police, the system is not meant to replace phone calls. Texts should only be sent when dialing 911 is not an option, he said, because there is no guarantee a text message will be sent or received in a timely manner.

Barry, a former Jamestown resident, said this “is an important and potentially life-saving service, especially for anyone in a situation where they cannot talk safely on the phone or cannot physically call 911 for help. It also will serve as a valuable tool for the deaf and hard of hearing.”

When texting 911, messages should include a brief description of the emergency and the exact location, including street name, house number and town.