Morris police work to get 9-1-1 enabled phones into hands of seniors, those at abuse risk

Want a free cellular phone?

You can have it, but there’s a catch — it’s only good for 9-1-1.

The Morris Police Department, teaming up RMS Communication Group’s 9-1-1 Cell Phone Program, plans to donate free cell phones to qualifying residents.

That way, Morris dwellers that might not have the money or resources to buy a cell phone can freely share the safety of electronic security.

“Our goal is to get the phones for nothing and offer phones to seniors,” Morris Police Chief Doug Hayse said. “We’re going to offer them to any person who has domestic abuse risk. We won’t make it for just elderly service.”

Hayse said he hopes to have the refurbished 9-1-1 phones in his possession by this week’s end. But before he orders hundreds of used phones, Hayse said, he wants to see “if an interest is out there.”

Years ago, Hayse said, the department attempted a similar program, but the phone refurbisher sent the emergency phones to the department without chargers rendering the free phones useless.

RMS Communications Group, Inc., packages refurbished cell phones and their working chargers.

The Morris Police Department, in turn for the free phones, will be collecting used and discarded cell phones from the community.

Later this week, the Morris Police Department will send out a news release officially announcing the new program and requesting used phones.

After assembling used and discarded phones, Hayse will send the collected batch to the RMS Communications Group in Florida.

Hayse said he discovered the cell phone recycling company at the Illinois TRIAD conference Sept. 7 and 8. TRIAD is a national partnership between police officers and senior citizens.

During the conference, Hayse discovered the Florida-based group had worked with Kankakee County to develop a similar cell phone distribution strategy for the elderly.

Greg Mooneyham, 9-1-1 program manager for RMS Communications Group, said his company will send out as many phones as the Morris Police Department requests, regardless of the used phones the department sends to the company.

RMS Communications Group can remarket any of the donated/discarded phones if they have any value.

Mooneyham also said that, depending on the phone the person receives, he/she may have the opportunity to activate the phone with the cellular company if the phone model can be activated.

“All cell phones, if they can power up, they should be able to make a 9-1-1 call,” Mooneyham said. “Some of these phones, they could get service if the owners choose.”

“We are a cell phone recycling company,” Mooneyham said. If a phone comes in and has no value, it’s responsibly recycled. Our first goal is to reuse the product and, if that’s not possible, recycle it in a responsible manner.“

The group’s 9-1-1 division is currently seeking not-for-profit status and is distributing refurbished cell phones nationwide.

Every month, Mooneyham estimates distributing 2,000 to 3,000 cell phones to more than 200 organizations scattered across the states.

Clients include the offices of Florida’s attorney general and the Oklahoma City attorney.

By Casey Toner
Herald Writer