To make it easier for residents to contact the Nassau County Police Department in the event of an emergency, the Legislature’s Rules Committee, of which Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton is a member, approved a contract with a vendor that will install a system making it possible for residents to text 911 in addition to calling. These services will be especially valuable for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; have limited English proficiency; or need to reach authorities discreetly, such as in an active shooter, hostage, or domestic violence crisis.

Once activated, the interface will automatically transfer text message 911-related information to NCPD’s current Computer Aided Dispatch system. Anyone who misuses text to 911 would be subject to the same penalties as those who misuse 911 by phone.
Text to 911 is already live in numerous New York State municipalities, including Suffolk, Ulster, Niagara, and Putnam Counties. Nassau County was required to implement a program under the terms of a May 2023 settlement in a case alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.