In Whitfield County, 911 callers using smartphones now have the option to livestream video or send multimedia information like photographs to dispatchers at the county’s 911 center.
David Metcalf, the county’s 911/Emergency Management Agency director, said in a statement county officials wanted to give people more options when using 911.
“We wanted a different way for the citizens to talk to 911, and this way we can communicate real-time information that we can share with responders,” Metcalf said. “This is the next generation of 911, and I always want to stay in front of that curve.”
Participation in the livestream video option is voluntary, county officials said. If a Whitfield County 911 caller consents, the dispatcher will send a text that allows the caller to activate a live video stream with a single click.
The county said in the statement the video call function doesn’t give access to the contents or settings of the caller’s phone.