Full Notification

“Call if you can -- Text if you can’t” The Palm Springs Police Department is proud to announce that hearing and/or speech impaired members of the community, or those in a situation where it is too dangerous to dial 9-1-1, as of today, have another option in the City of Palm Springs to call for help in an emergency – Text to 9-1-1. The PSPD Dispatch Center is now equipped to receive and respond to mobile phone SMS Text-to-9-1-1 messages. This service is available for use by the deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech impaired, and in situations where it is too dangerous to make a voice call to 9-1-1. All phones or devices must include a text or data plan to send a text to 9-1-1. PSPD Dispatchers are trained and ready to assist callers who, for whatever reason, are unable to call 9-1-1. While the technology is evolving, it is another tool to help those who are often the most vulnerable in our communities if they cannot call 9-1-1 The benefits to the public are significant, especially in cases when the caller cannot communicate verbally. Examples include not only the hearing-impaired, but also when a crime is in process, the caller is facing domestic abuse, the caller is injured and cannot speak, or other scenarios. Here are guidelines for how to contact 9-1-1. If you use a wireless phone or other type of mobile device, make sure to do the following in an emergency: -If you can, always contact 9-1-1 by making a voice call, “Call if you can – text if you can’t.” -If you are deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech disabled, and Text-to- 9-1-1 is not available, use a TTY or telecommunications relay service, if available. -If you text 9-1-1 and text is not available in your area, you will receive a bounce back message advising “text is not available please make a voice call to 9-1-1.” -Location accuracy varies by carrier and should not be relied upon. Be prepared to give your location. -Text-to-9-1-1 service will not be available if the wireless carrier cannot ascertain a location of the device sending the message. -Text-to-9-1-1 is not available if you are roaming. -A text or data plan is required to place a text to 9-1-1. -Photos and videos cannot be sent to 9-1-1. They cannot be received at the 9-1-1 center at this time. -Text messages should be sent in plain language and not contain popular abbreviations (SMH, LOL, ICYMI) or emojis, which will not be recognized. -Text-to- 9-1-1 cannot be sent to more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 9-1-1.  -Texts must be in English only. There currently is no language interpretation for text available. This is still in development.