Seminole County Agencies Launch Text Updates for 911 Callers Awaiting Officers

When Altamonte Springs residents call 911 this month, they are receiving something new on the other end: an automated prompt asking whether they want text or email updates while they wait for an officer to arrive.

The Altamonte Springs Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office launched Versaterm CommunityConnect in March 2026, making Seminole County one of the first areas in Florida to deploy the notification software across multiple agencies simultaneously. The system is entirely voluntary and can be discontinued at any time.

ASPD Public Information Officer Deana DiPaola described how the opt-in process works once a caller dials 911. "When they call into 911, they will get the opt-in message. Once they opt-in, then it will tell them that the officer is on the way, it'll tell them who the officer is, and if there's any kind of delay," DiPaola said.

Roughly one in five callers is taking the agency up on the offer. DiPaola said approximately 20 percent of people have opted into the service since it launched this month, a figure drawn from ASPD's own data. If officers take a formal report, callers who opted in will also receive updates on their case number and the status of the investigation, extending the communication beyond the initial response.

The ASPD deployment is funded through a grant backed by the Florida Department of Corrections. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is approaching the rollout differently, piloting the program at no cost to the agency. Sheriff's Office staff declined an interview, noting that CommunityConnect is still new to their operation.

Both agencies framed the program around a single goal: transparency with the people who call for help. Whether that translates into measurable outcomes, such as fewer callbacks to dispatch or reduced complaints about wait times, remains to be seen as the program moves beyond its opening weeks.