Police use texts to help troubled woman

Associated Press

POST FALLS, Idaho - The distraught woman messaged police this week telling them she was going to hurt herself, but she refused to pick up her phone. So dispatchers with Post Falls police used text messages - about 60 or so over the next hour - to help the woman.

Dispatchers were able to determine that she was driving around Coeur d'Alene and persuaded her to turn herself in to Coeur d'Alene police, police Communications Director Charlene Holbrook told local news media in Spokane.

People should still call 911 directly if they need emergency help, police said. But reporting a crime via text message is an option for those who need to use it, Holbrook said.

"The program isn't set up to get rid of 911, but we do feel it is the next wave of reporting crimes," Post Falls Police Chief Scott Haug told local news media in Spokane.

Texting is different than talking on the phone, and dispatchers were "on pins and needles" waiting for the next text to pop up, Holbrook said.

"When you're talking to someone on the phone, if they're crying you can calm them, or relate to them or have compassion," Communication Supervisor Laura Claffey said. "On text-a-crime you can't read the inflection in their voice."

Police launched the new text-a-crime system in early 2013, and said at the time that they were looking for new ways to get information to solve crimes. They believe texting crime tips will catch on with young people and, hopefully, generate leads for police.

The service may also benefit people who are hearing impaired.