NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – If you live in Norman, listen up. Starting Tuesday, the Norman Police Department are initiating a new public safety tool. It offers emergency response updates to you through text messages.
Norman residents that call 911 or the cities non-emergency line are now receiving automated text messages straight to their phone that update them on the officer’s response. The department said it’s to improve communication, transparency and even receive feedback from the public.
“This is actively working with our active dispatch system and our record system,” Sarah Schettler with the Norman Police Department said.
The new technology Schettler is talking about is called SPIDR Tech.
“It’s all happening behind the scenes and so there’s no one that’s initiating these specific messages,” she said.
It’s all based on what type of call. The first message you’ll get acknowledges that they got your call. It can also notify the caller if officers are delayed, for instance, if a high priority incident takes place over a non-emergency call. It gives incident numbers, lets them know of any changes or the status of an investigation, tells them how to request a report, if any arrests are made and links to other services.
“It will feel very much the same to the citizen outside of the receipt of the text message,” Schettler said.
It won’t send texts to callers where it may cause safety concerns for people involved like in active shooter situations.
“We don’t want to be pinging a victim’s phone during that time,” Schettler said.
At the end, you’ll take a short survey on your experience with Norman police. It’s feedback Schettler said they want to focus on.
“That’s going to give us some real information at the police department about what our service looks like and how we can continue to improve or evolve that service,” she said.
The tool can be used in Spanish and can be stopped anytime by replying with the word “stop.” It will also let you know if an issue has been resolved, for instance in a suspicious persons call. For more information on SPIDR Tech, click here.
