Boston city councilor wants 911 to receive text messages, videos

By Globe Staff

Boston City Councilor Robert Consalvo plans to request a hearing Wednesday to discuss enabling the Boston Police Department's 911 emergency response system to receive text messages, videos and pictures.

Consalvo's order says that such capability would better equip the city to respond quickly to crime scenes. The councilor cites investigators' use of student camera phone images to identify suspects in the wake of the December riots at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a recent Franklin arrest based on YouTube video.

Consalvo said New York City recently announced plans to enhance its 911 center by enabling it to receive camera and video images taped by cell phones. The councilor said Philadelphia and Chicago are also considering adding the capability.

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