Norman Police Department launches communication tool

The Norman Police Department is rolling out a new communication tool for the community starting Tuesday, July 23.

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) - The Norman Police Department is rolling out a new communication tool for the community starting Tuesday, July 23.

According to Norman Police, SPIDR Tech, a Versaterm Public Safety Company product, allows residents and visitors of Norman to receive text updates regarding their emergency and non-emergency calls for police service.

“This new tool underscores our dedication to leveraging technology to better serve Norman and ensure that our interactions are as seamless and informative as possible,” said Norman Police Chief Kevin Foster.

Officials say NPD is the first agency in Oklahoma to roll out the tool. It's used send automated texts to residents who have called 911 or a non-emergency number for the department. The text messages will be sent to the primary caller to acknowledge the request for service.

The tool also notifies the caller of any relevant delays, incident numbers, incident or investigation status changes, information on how to request a report, any arrests made and information regarding victim services and rights. After the incident or case is closed, the caller may be asked to complete a short survey regarding their interaction with NPD.

NPD’s new text notification:

• Will only be sent to the primary caller who placed the request for NPD services by calling 911 or 405-321-1444
• Will NOT send texts about in-progress calls and situations where a text message may pose safety concerns for individuals involved
• Can be accessed in Spanish by using the link provided in the text
• Cannot be used to send text communications to dispatchers
• Can be stopped by replying to the text with “STOP”

“SPIDR Tech represents a significant step forward in how we interact with those we serve by providing real-time updates on calls for service. We aim to keep our community informed and engaged, ultimately improving our responsiveness and the overall experience of those who reach out to us for help.” Chief Foster added.

NPD says residents should call 911 for life-threatening emergencies and the non-emergency line, 405-321-1444, for officer response. If a resident cannot call, they can also text 911 to speak with a dispatcher.