Roselle Residents Can Now Text 9 1 1

Roselle Fire Chief Timothy Smeltzer and Roselle Police Chief Rob Barreto are pleased to announce that Roselle has added the ability for residents to text 9-1-1 dispatchers for emergencies.

Text-to-911 works on cell phones, tablets, and other devices with the capability of sending texts using AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. While the texting service is convenient, public safety experts stress that people experiencing emergencies should call when they can and text when they can't.

"Calling is better than texting because emergency dispatchers can get more immediate answers to questions from callers, listen for distress in voices, and learn background information that could assist first responders in a potentially life-threatening emergency," said Chief Barreto. "But being able to provide another way for people to reach us in an emergency situation means one more way someone can be assisted in their time of need."

Like Text-to-911, DuPage County residents can also text 988 for crisis intervention and 211 for health and social service resources.

Using Text-to-911 in an emergency can be especially helpful for individuals needing emergency assistance who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a speech disability, or are suffering a medical emergency that has rendered them unable to speak. It can also be used in situations where it is not safe to place a voice call to 9-1-1.

"In Roselle, our residents live in both DuPage and Cook County, but because all Roselle emergency calls are directed to DuPage Public Safety Communications, your text or phone call will reach us no matter where you live," said Fire Chief Smeltzer. "Roselle is proud work alongside our neighboring safety agencies to improve emergency service delivery for residents."

Text-to-911 does not currently receive pictures or video. Text-to-911 service is subject to cell signal availability. In the event a text does not go through, the person attempting to use Text-to-911 should receive an automated bounce-back message indicating the text's failure to be delivered.

The Village of Roselle, Roselle Fire Department, and Roselle Police Department thanks the State of Illinois 9-1-1 Administrator and the State 9-1-1 Advisory Board for their efforts to bring Text-to-911 technology to DuPage County. To learn more about Text-to-911, visit https://www.dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/etsb/text_to_911.php.