NEW LONDON — Six emergency communication kiosks are active at public locations across downtown and the waterfront, giving people a one-button connection to police dispatch when a phone is unavailable or difficult to use.
The New London Police Department says each illuminated blue-light tower transmits its exact GPS and physical location as soon as the emergency button is pressed. An integrated public-safety camera also activates and streams live video to dispatchers during the call.
The kiosks are at Custom House Pier outside the police waterfront substation; the northwest corner of State Street and Eugene O’Neill Drive; the southwest corner of State and Washington streets; Parade Plaza at Water and Atlantic streets; the southwest Pearl Street sidewalk at the municipal parking lots; and City Pier behind the visitor center near the pedestrian construction access to the ferry terminals.
The Day reported that the City Council approved $141,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act money in December 2023 for the kiosks and additional police cameras on private storefronts. Deputy Police Chief John Perry told the newspaper that the city purchased the kiosks outright and does not face an annual maintenance charge, though replacement would require a future funding decision if one fails.
Police describe the towers as a backup when a cellphone has no power, has poor reception or is not readily available. Perry also told The Day that the live camera feed could provide useful information to responders and investigators when a call is placed.
New London’s launch comes as UConn moves toward removing most of its older campus blue-light phones. The university has cited low emergency use, roughly $70,000 in annual operating costs and an estimated $6 million needed for upgrades. UConn says some phones will remain where cellular service is weak. New London officials said those maintenance-cost concerns do not apply to the city’s newly purchased system.
The kiosks supplement 911 service; they do not replace it. In an emergency, people who can safely call or text 911 should continue to do so.