Officer needs help button?

Question

Are your department radios equipt with an "officer needs help/assistance" button? If so, does your Communications Division know who/where you are when you push it. What happens when you push it?

Answer 1

My PD radios were always equipped with an SOS button. When it was pushed, the GPS in the car was activated and dispatch would send the nearest officer to respond under the possibility of Officer in Need of Assistance.

Answer 2

We had what was called body alarms, if the button was pushed it caused an alarm to go off in the control center.

After the alarm sounds you can speak and let them know what is going on and where you are located.  You can press this button repeatedly if need be, so that you can give them all the information that they need.  

We were able to use these for both medical emergencies as well as for Officer assists.

Answer 3

AJ is right.  Some departments don't have this available because they don't get enough $$$$ for those type of things...that sucks!

Answer 4

Yup, they know who you are but not where you are. The officer hopefully had called out the location they were getting out at. Our squad cars have GPS tracking so they would be able to locate them that way if they were working a marked squad. When its pushed a loud alarm sounds in our dispatch center and that is then aired city wide. Then the cavalry rolls in and someone gets an *** whuppin.

Answer 5

if you have a cellphone from a major carrier you have a help button just push and hold 9 it will call 911 and they have location on your phone unless you turn off emergency locate

Answer 6

Our department carries Motorola Astro/Spectra radios. They have an unique ID, which is programed with your radio call number. When you press the emergency button, your call number comes up on the screen in dispatch. Our squad computers log your last location, so everyone else knows where to go to.

The other advantage is you can page for assistance without the suspect knowing. If he knows help is on the way, he could be more motivated to fight before backup arrives.

Answer 7

My hand held has one.  Push it and the radio itself sends out a tone.  No one will hear it unless they are within earshot.   It does not transmit over the air to dispatch or other units.

Answer 8

Some of the larger departments have these "help buttons". These cars are also equipped with a computer system that lets dispatch know where the cars are at all times. When the button is pushed it is for emergencies. All nearby officers will respond to assist.