Not all cell phones offer the ability for parents to track a handset through GPS. New cell phones, however, are equipped with GPS technology that allows the phone to be tracked in the event of emergencies.
Krystee Pearson, dispatch supervisor at the Emporia Police Department, said the dispatch center is Phase II compliant, which is the second phase of the Federal Communication Commission’s Enhanced 911 system. If someone calls the police department on a cell phone that is Phase II compliant the department can get an approximate location of a cell phone.
“It doesn’t tell us the address where they are calling from,” Pearson said. “The technology isn’t exact. It gives us a pretty close location where the call is (coming from).”
Phones sold by cell phone providers with stores in Emporia are Phase II compliant, according to a phone survey conducted by The Gazette. Because older models may not have the GPS feature for emergency services, it’s best to call your cell phone provider to check.