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Redmond police add text-to-911 translation supporting 42 languages
Summary
The Redmond Police Department said it now supports text-to-911 with automatic translation in 42 languages for King County residents; the department also provided staffing and call-volume figures.
The Redmond Police Department has deployed text-to-911 automatic language translation that supports 42 languages and allows anyone within King County to text 911 instead of calling, Officer Claire Cook said.
The change could broaden access to emergency services for residents who cannot easily make a voice call in English, the department said in the weekly CityNewsNow update.
Officer Claire Cook, who works in the recruiting and hiring unit at the Redmond Police Department, said the agency employs 92 commissioned officers and 40 professional staff and received more than 62,000 calls for service last year. "The Redmond Police Department now has text to 911 automatic language translation technology that supports 42 languages," Cook said in the segment.
City officials framed the capability as an access improvement for King County, where customers who cannot speak or prefer not to call can send a text with their location and need. The segment did not specify the vendor, effective date for the service, any limitations on multimedia content (photos or video), or whether costs or fees apply.
The department did not provide additional operational detail during the segment, including whether texts are routed differently from voice calls, any delay expectations, whether translators are human or machine-assisted, or whether the service is available in languages beyond the 42-language list mentioned.
Redmond's CityNewsNow post directing viewers to more information listed a link in the accompanying notes; the segment did not include technical or policy documentation. The department did not specify metrics for expected use, staffing changes tied to the service, or whether other King County jurisdictions have adopted the same system.
