Nassau County 911 texts now being accepted, thanks to legal settlement
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced a countywide text-to-911 program on Thursday. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Nassau County is now accepting 911 calls via text message, but police still urged those in an emergency to call 911 when possible.
Nassau police have received more than 100 text messages to 911 since it first launched Sept. 15 as part of a legal settlement, requiring the county, along with Suffolk and New York City, to implement text messaging as an option for emergency calls to those with disabilities.
Thursday, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder demonstrated a test of the service at the Nassau County communications dispatch center in Westbury. He said police dispatchers would respond to those texting the same way they would with callers to 911, until police or other emergency responders arrive.
“This is another way for us to help the community, for them to reach us when they need assistance,” Ryder said. “We want to make sure everyone understands Text 911 is not to replace the 911 call. If you have the ability, always call 911.”
The system is designed to help anyone with a speech or hearing impediment reach 911, as well as to help access police in emergencies such as a domestic violence call, a home burglary or an active shooter situation, he said.
In August, the Nassau County Legislature approved County Executive Bruce Blakeman's request to pay vendor Intergraph Corp. a $106,000 contract to install software for the county's 911 database to receive text messages.
The new software brings the county into compliance following a 2017 federal lawsuit arguing that Nassau, Suffolk and New York City discriminated against people with disabilities and the hearing impaired by denying them access to emergency services.
Suffolk County launched their text message service in 2018 and the service began in New York City in 2020.
Dr. Chris Rosa, president of the Albertson-based Viscardi Center, a nonprofit advocacy group for disability access and rights, said the new text messaging service would help increase accessibility for those who rely on texting.
“While the Americans with Disabilities Act’s equal access guarantees are important in all aspects of American life, the stakes are highest for people with disabilities when it comes to meaningful access to Public Safety Answering Points," Rosa said. "Text-to-911 service can be lifesaving to people with disabilities."
Ryder said the same 911 dispatchers will be answering text messages as soon as they are received.
Calls will be directed to dispatchers through cellphone providers, but will not give dispatchers an exact location of where the text message is coming from. Dispatchers can text back and forth to ask questions and relay instructions before police arrive, Ryder said. Nassau has a similar way to reach police for emergencies through the Rave app, which includes a panic button that can be used in schools.
"The more ways we can communicate with the public, the more ways we can help our victims," Ryder said. "We always stress — call 911. Those professionals that answer the phone will break it down to make our response better and keep the victim calm on the other side of the phone."
Nassau County is now accepting 911 calls via text message, but police still urged those in an emergency to call 911 when possible.
Nassau police have received more than 100 text messages to 911 since it first launched Sept. 15 as part of a legal settlement, requiring the county, along with Suffolk and New York City, to implement text messaging as an option for emergency calls to those with disabilities.
Thursday, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder demonstrated a test of the service at the Nassau County communications dispatch center in Westbury. He said police dispatchers would respond to those texting the same way they would with callers to 911, until police or other emergency responders arrive.
“This is another way for us to help the community, for them to reach us when they need assistance,” Ryder said. “We want to make sure everyone understands Text 911 is not to replace the 911 call. If you have the ability, always call 911.”
The system is designed to help anyone with a speech or hearing impediment reach 911, as well as to help access police in emergencies such as a domestic violence call, a home burglary or an active shooter situation, he said.
In August, the Nassau County Legislature approved County Executive Bruce Blakeman's request to pay vendor Intergraph Corp. a $106,000 contract to install software for the county's 911 database to receive text messages.
The new software brings the county into compliance following a 2017 federal lawsuit arguing that Nassau, Suffolk and New York City discriminated against people with disabilities and the hearing impaired by denying them access to emergency services.
Suffolk County launched their text message service in 2018 and the service began in New York City in 2020.
Dr. Chris Rosa, president of the Albertson-based Viscardi Center, a nonprofit advocacy group for disability access and rights, said the new text messaging service would help increase accessibility for those who rely on texting.
“While the Americans with Disabilities Act’s equal access guarantees are important in all aspects of American life, the stakes are highest for people with disabilities when it comes to meaningful access to Public Safety Answering Points," Rosa said. "Text-to-911 service can be lifesaving to people with disabilities."
Ryder said the same 911 dispatchers will be answering text messages as soon as they are received.
Nassau County Police communications bureau operators in Westbury Thursday. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Calls will be directed to dispatchers through cellphone providers, but will not give dispatchers an exact location of where the text message is coming from. Dispatchers can text back and forth to ask questions and relay instructions before police arrive, Ryder said. Nassau has a similar way to reach police for emergencies through the Rave app, which includes a panic button that can be used in schools.
"The more ways we can communicate with the public, the more ways we can help our victims," Ryder said. "We always stress — call 911. Those professionals that answer the phone will break it down to make our response better and keep the victim calm on the other side of the phone."
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
Remembering 9/11: Where things stand now As we remember those we lost on 9/11, we're looking at the ongoing battle to secure long term protection for first responders and the latest twists and turns in the casesof the accused terrorists.
Remembering 9/11: Where things stand now As we remember those we lost on 9/11, we're looking at the ongoing battle to secure long term protection for first responders and the latest twists and turns in the casesof the accused terrorists.
