The Falls Township Police Department is rolling out a community connect program to keep residents and callers up to date on calls for service for through digital technology.
The automated notification system program was announced last year after being the department was awarded a grant that fully funds the effort for the first year it is implemented.
“We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Versaterm and their Community Connect platform. Beginning Monday, March 16, residents and callers who contact Falls Township Police for help will receive timely text updates confirming their call was received, outlining next steps and providing a case number,” Lt Chris Clark, said.
These updates are designed to reduce uncertainty while residents wait for assistance, improve transparency, and strengthen communication between Falls Township Police and the community, Clark explained.
When applicable, texts may also advise if police response will be delayed. Once the call is cleared, residents will receive a link to a short voluntary survey about their experience with Falls Township Police Officers.
Surveys will be available in both English and Spanish, and no confidential information will ever be shared by text.
This service will apply only to calls where there is no immediate threat to life or crime in progress. Calls involving sexual assault, intimate partner violence, abduction, bomb threats, alarms or demonstrations will not be part of the system. To ensure public safety, real-time updates will not be sent for in-progress incidents or situations where messaging could pose a risk to those involved.
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A confirmation text that their call was received
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The associated case number
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Information about next steps
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Updates if police response will be delayed
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A link to an optional multilingual feedback survey
Residents will receive texts from (215) 608-4638. If they call or text this number, they will receive an automated message directing them to call police emergency and non-emergency lines.
“This technology will increase our communication and customer service with the community we serve” Clark said.