New Milford Police Remind Residents They Can Text 911 in an Emergency

According to a release from the New Milford Police Department, a lot of Connecticut residents either don’t realize this exists or completely forget about it during an emergency: you can actually text 911 in Connecticut if you’re unable to safely make a phone call.

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And honestly, that’s one of those things you don’t think about until you suddenly need it.

The department recently reminded residents that the state’s Text-to-911 service is fully available in the New Milford area and throughout Connecticut. The feature is designed for situations where talking on the phone could put someone in danger, or when a person physically can’t speak. That could include domestic violence situations, medical emergencies, home invasions, or any scenario where making noise could make things worse.

The basic rule is simple: call if you can, text if you can’t.

Police say if you do need to send a text to 911, there are a few important things to remember. First, immediately include your location because dispatchers can’t always pinpoint you as quickly through text the way they can with a phone call. You should also keep the message short and clear, explain the emergency, and answer any follow-up questions from dispatch.

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And yes, apparently emojis are discouraged, which means this is probably the one time the crying-laughing face shouldn’t be used in a text conversation.

The department also notes that voice calls are still the fastest and most effective way to contact emergency services when possible. But having the ability to text could genuinely save lives in situations where speaking out loud simply isn’t an option.

Honestly, this feels like one of those things every Connecticut resident should know before they ever need it. Because when panic kicks in during an emergency, most people aren’t exactly stopping to Google what their options are.