Alice Police introduce Versaterm text alert system for 9-1-1 calls

On Jan. 12 the Alice Police Department launched Versaterm, a new automated communication system designed to improve how the department connects with residents during 9-1-1 calls and other emergency situations. City officials say the tool will deliver immediate text updates to callers and track cases as they move through municipal and county systems, a change officials frame as greater transparency for Jim Wells County residents.

Police Chief Eden Garcia described the system as a community communication tool. "We have it in place to help communicate with our community. It's important when people call 9-1-1 that they receive information in return. So what this does is it's an automated service," Garcia said.

Under the new setup, a caller to 9-1-1 will receive a text message with the responding officer's name, an estimated time of arrival, and a post-incident survey to rate their experience once the situation has been resolved. The platform will continue to send updates as a case progresses, including notifications about whether charges are filed in municipal or county court. "They'll be getting information through this portal - through this Versaterm. And it'll give them information on who the officer - investigating officer is, what's being done, and if there's been an arrest," Garcia said.

Alice is among a small number of Texas law enforcement agencies adopting the technology; officials noted San Antonio and Brownsville as other users. For local residents, the change aims to shorten the information gap that often follows emergency calls, letting family members and victims know who is responding and what the next procedural steps will be.

Some community members welcomed the promise of clearer communication, while others urged caution. Alice resident Amanda Friedeck said she had concerns about the rollout and urged more public education before full implementation. Chief Garcia said he plans to hold public meetings to explain how the system works and how it benefits the community.

The introduction of automated messaging touches on broader questions that communities across the globe are wrestling with: how to balance rapid digital communication with privacy, accuracy, and public trust in policing. Locally, the immediate effects will be practical—texts that identify officers and timelines, plus a formal channel for feedback—while the longer-term effects will depend on follow-through in training, data handling and community outreach.

For residents, expect to receive texts after calling 9-1-1 and to be invited to rate your experience. Watch for announced public meetings from the Alice Police Department to learn more and ask questions about how Versaterm will work in Jim Wells County.