Text-to-911 OK’d by Nassau County Two men charged with string of L.I., N. Shore burglaries

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Nassau County is one step closer to implementing 911 text services, allowing residents to text the emergency service provider in incidents where calling is not possible.

The text-to-911 services will transfer text messages to 911 to the Nassau County Police Department’s current Computer Aided Dispatch system.

The text-to-911 service would be available 24/7 and provide for individuals who are unable to call the emergency services number.

This includes individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, have a limited proficiency in the English language or are in situations where first responders need to be reached in a discreet manner, such as in an active shooter, hostage or domestic violence situation.

As of now, the only way Nassau County residents can contact 911 is via a phone call.

Penalties for misusing textto-911 services are the same for misuse of the current phone services.

The program’s implementation would be overseen by the Nassau County Police Department commissioner and the Nassau County Fire Marshal.

This will be done in conjunction with feedback and guidance from disability rights advocates, which includes the Nassau County Disability Advisory Council.

Nassau County Legislator

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D–Glen Cove) introduced the legislation to implement the new services.

“It is essential for our emergency response capabilities to keep up with the latest technology so that our courageous first responders can protect public safety to the best of their abilities,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

“Not only will implementing text-to-911 accomplish that goal, it gives Nassau County residents a powerful and discrete, and accessible tool for alerting police officers to a crisis. I am sure that launching a text-to-911 program will save

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BY BRANDON DUFFY

Two Queens men were charged Friday for their alleged involvement in at least 19 burglaries throughout Long Island and the North Shore.

Hector Portilla, 60, and Diego Ercoli, 50, were detained in Merrick Thursday after police observed the duo acting together to burglarize the Bagel Chalet on Merrick Road, police said.

The two are suspected of being responsible for burglaries that took place between April 20 and Aug. 3 in New Hyde Park, Mineola and Williston Park, among other spots, police said.

The two New New Hyde Park locations robbed on April 2 were TLC Family Cleaners and Ultra Gas Station on Jericho Turnpike, police said.

Mineola’s lone location was a July 25 burglary at Mineola Laundromat at Mineola Boulevard and Williston Park’s burglarized locations included Little Tulip Daycare Center and Mr. Jay Appliance on Hillside Avenue, according to police.

Additional robberies the men are charged with took place in Oceanside,

Hicksville, Plainview and Lynbrook, police said. Ercoli and Portilla were charged with 19 counts of burglary, according to police.