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GPS location boost to help Seattle 911 Center locate mobile callers

SEATTLE — A technological upgrade will help dispatchers at the Seattle Police 911 Center determine a mobile caller’s precise location.

Previously, dispatchers could only tell the precise location of those who called from landlines. Cellphones accounted for 70 percent of all incoming 911 calls in 2017, according to FCC data.

"RapidSOS, enabled late last month at no additional cost through the existing Rave 911 Suite interface, provides pinpoint location services to our 911 Center. Previous iterations of cell phone GPS provided latitude and longitude, but locations were generalized and lacked verticality, something common in our urban city," Seattle Police said in a blotter post Tuesday.

RapidSOS will give dispatchers the precise location, within a few feet, of most cellphone callers requesting emergency services. The upgrade applies to all Apple IOS and Android cellphone owners who have the latest software update.

In addition to the 911 center upgrade, passengers on the ride-sharing app Uber will now be able to contact 911 with one tap of a button.

"This new emergency button feature empowers our 911 Center to download key details, including Uber driver and rider information, vehicle description, license plate, current location, and direction of travel. When Uber's in-app emergency button is used, this information is sent digitally, no words need to be spoken," Seattle Police said.

For more information regarding either of these services or a demonstration regarding how this technology is integrated into the 911 Center, please contact Sgt. Sean Whitcomb of SPD Public Affairs at 206 684-5520.

Click here to read more from the Seattle Police Departments on the various technological upgrades.

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