Oklahoma City has taken a step meant to ease the way for first responders dealing with specialized situations with the launch of an online Awareness Notification Form. Announced by city officials, this digital innovation offers residents and business owners the chance to inform public safety officers of certain conditions at their premises that might require an adjusted emergency response, as seen on the City of Oklahoma City official website. Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy explained that this online option "gives residents an easier, more convenient way to proactively notify us about conditions that exist at their location," which was previously possible only through direct contact with a public safety officer.
The Awareness Notification Form allows the city's 911 Communications Center to attach the provided information to a specific location, ensuring that the most appropriate team of responders gets dispatched in case of an emergency call. Although still available only in English, plans are in motion to make this resource accessible in Spanish and Vietnamese as well. Having been informed of the residents who experience mental and behavioral health symptoms, or about sensitivities to loud sounds or flashing lights, this way Oklahoma City's firefighters can tailor their approach—either by sending specialized teams or by dimming their usual blaze of sirens and lights.
Creating an option for preemptive communication with emergency services, Oklahoma City Fire Chief Richard Kelley sees this as an extension of the city's endeavor to recalibrate public safety measures, especially concerning mental or behavioral health. Kelley said, "This helps us better respond to emergency calls at that location," which could include sending the Mobile Integrated Healthcare team or mitigating the usual visual and auditory signals used during emergencies, as per the City of Oklahoma City website.
The implementation of this form is also a direct response to the community's needs, as expressed by Frances Kersey, board president of National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater OKC, who emphasized the value of trained dispatchers being equipped with prior knowledge to de-escalate potential crisis situations for "better outcomes for the individual and the first responder," as mentioned on the City of Oklahoma City website. This form, expiring after a year from submission, is reportedly a part of a broader set of recommendations aimed at improving community engagement and law enforcement policies, aligned with the OKC Public Safety Partnership's Recommendation 20.
While the online form is the preferred method for submitting this critical information, residents who may not have the means or ability to access the online system can still reach out to the Oklahoma City Police Department by phone to provide their information. The form and additional information about the initiative can be found on the city's website.
