Smart 911

DuComm to Begin Using Smart 911 Technology

The Villa Park Police Department, in conjunction with DuPage Public Safety Communications (DuComm), is pleased to announce a new and potentially life-saving service for use by the public. The implementation of this service has the potential to save lives by helping to improve 911 response to emergency calls made from cellular telephones. Refer to this Smart911 Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information.

Helping Emergency Operators

This new technology, known as Smart 911, requires citizens to voluntarily register their cellular phone numbers via the Smart 911 web site. Once citizens sign up, any 911 call they make from their registered cellular device will include important personal information that goes directly to the dispatcher. The dispatcher in turn will pass on pertinent information directly to first responders. Citizens will provide the information about themselves and their families when they register. Such information could include medical conditions and alerts, children's photographs, home and work addresses of mobile phone callers, disabilities or other rescue-related information, locations for a child's room in the home, and any other useful information designed to assist emergency responders and to help locate the caller. Emergency access to information such as this can help 911 operators and first responders address issues faster and more efficiently. Fill out this Smart911 Worksheet (PDF) to help determine what information should be shared with 911 call takers and first responders.

Sign up for Smart 911

Effective April 2017, Smart 911 changed up the way residents can sign up. Up until now, each Smart911 account needed to be linked to an email address. There was a good reason for this; account holders received periodic email reminders to log in and check the accuracy of their profiles. But it also presented a challenge when registering people who didn't have email addresses—particularly seniors, who could benefit most from Smart911.

Now, however, while users can still opt for email, only a telephone number is necessary for registration, and if the user prefers, reminders will be made by phone or text. Users without an email address can also indicate if they're receiving help setting up their account, and if so, whether the person helping them should receive reminders to keep the account up to date. (See the screen shot below.) A good example of this may be a senior who has a family member or caregiver helping them set up the profile.

Participate in Smart 911

The emergency information collected is kept in a secure facility and only made available to our 911 operators and first responders when the cellular device is used to call a 911 center equipped with the Smart 911 technology. The Police Chief strongly encourages all citizens living or working within Villa Park to register for this free service. We would also like to enlist your assistance in spreading the word about the Smart 911 service. Helping to get citizens signed up can save lives. Please take the time to register and pass the information on to your family and friends. Please visit Smart 911 to register or go straight to the the Smart 911 Registration form.

Refer to this Smart911 Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information.