Risks of Texting
The Hidden Risks of Text Messaging in Public Safety Operations
In the high-stakes world of public safety, communication is everything. Yet one of the most common tools used during critical operations—text messaging—was never designed for the job.
Whether it’s a SWAT callout, protest response, or severe weather incident, texting remains the go-to method for many teams to coordinate in real time. But beneath the surface, it creates a host of operational challenges that put efficiency—and sometimes lives—at risk.
1. Outdated or Incomplete Contact Lists
Operational success often hinges on getting the right information to the right people. Unfortunately, many teams rely on contact lists that are outdated, incomplete, or siloed across units. This leads to missed messages, delays, and confusion during fast-moving situations.
2. Group Messages with Unknown Numbers
When agencies scramble to add people into group texts, recipients are often left trying to decipher who’s who by a list of random phone numbers. This erodes trust, slows coordination, and increases the risk of miscommunication.
3. Redundant Threads and Fragmented Updates
Without a centralized communication hub, team members create multiple overlapping text groups—each with partial information and different participants. This fragmentation results in duplicated efforts, inconsistent updates, and operational blind spots.
4. Text Group Size Limits
Standard texting apps cap group size, which limits the ability to scale communication during large-scale incidents. This forces teams to create parallel threads, further fragmenting situational awareness.
Texting Isn’t Built for Mission-Critical Collaboration
Texting is convenient, but it wasn’t built for public safety. It lacks auditability, administrative controls, real-time visibility, and the structure required for coordinated, secure, and accountable operations.
As agencies look to modernize their communications strategies, it’s time to rethink how we use texting—and recognize that mission-critical operations demand more than a consumer-grade solution.
