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BURLINGTON — Burlington’s 911 dispatchers now has access to technology allowing them to connect with the camera on a caller’s smartphone if the caller gives permission.
This week the Burlington Communications Center began testing Good Smartphone Activated Medics, or GoodSAM in a four-month trial.
The technology allows telecommunicators to request a cellphone caller’s camera view to see the incident and relay important details to police and fire personnel. The intelligence and information gathered can aid the emergency response and make sure that the appropriate resources are dispatched to help the caller, Assistant Chief Chris Smith of the Burlington Police Department said.
“This four-month demo represents a significant milestone for our 911 center and the community we serve,” he said. “By harnessing the caller’s access to cameras at the scene of an incident, we can improve our situational awareness and response to emergency situations, prioritizing our commitment to enhance public safety throughout our community. “
A dispatcher will send the 911 caller text message asking the person to click on a like to give permission for telecommunicators to view the camera feed. The video, no audio captured, is livestreamed in the GoodSAM dashboard and can be shared with officers or firefighters. Callers remain on the line so the dispatcher can ask questions and collect information. At any point, the caller can end access to the camera feed.
The public is not required to download any app. The telecommunicator will walk the caller through the process, and if the caller does not wish to share the cellphone video, the telecommunicator will continue to work through the call in the traditional way to provide as much information as possible to the first responders.
For more information about the GoodSAM technology demonstration, or to provide feedback on your own experience with the technology, visit www.burlingtonnc.gov/GoodSAM.
