St. Thomas, ON – Wednesday August 12th 2026
The St. Thomas Police Service is pleased to announce the successful implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), marking a significant milestone in the modernization of emergency communications for the City of St. Thomas. As the community’s Primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), the St. Thomas Police Service receives all 9-1-1 emergency calls through Canada’s next-generation emergency communications network, providing a more secure, reliable, and resilient platform for connecting residents with emergency services.
NG911 represents the next evolution of Canada’s emergency communications system. While residents will continue to dial 9-1-1 in the same way they always have during an emergency, the new technology provides a more secure, reliable, and resilient platform capable of supporting future enhancements as they become available across Ontario and Canada.
The transition to NG911 is the result of extensive planning, collaboration, testing, and training involving Communications Centre staff, technology partners, emergency service agencies, and government partners.
The St. Thomas Police Service also recognizes and thanks the Government of Ontario and the City of St. Thomas for their financial support, which played a vital role in helping the Service achieve this important milestone. Their investment in modern emergency communications demonstrates a shared commitment to public safety and ensuring first responders have the tools necessary to serve our growing community.
Although the underlying technology has changed, the public’s experience remains the same. Residents should continue to call 9-1-1 only for emergencies requiring immediate police, fire, or ambulance assistance.
NG911 establishes the foundation for future emergency communications capabilities that will be introduced nationally over time, including enhanced data sharing and other advanced features as they are approved and implemented by Canada’s emergency communications network.
The St. Thomas Police Service remains committed to investing in technology, partnerships, and innovation that enhance community safety while providing reliable, professional emergency service to the residents we serve.
“This is an important investment in the future of public safety for our community,” said Chief Marc Roskamp. “Our Communications Centre professionals are the first point of contact during some of the most critical moments in a person’s life. Implementing Next Generation 9-1-1 ensures they have access to modern, resilient technology that strengthens our ability to respond when our community needs us most.
This milestone would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of many partners. I want to thank the City of St. Thomas and the Government of Ontario for their financial investments in this project, as well as everyone who contributed to its successful implementation. In particular, I want to recognize our Police Service’s Information Technology team, whose leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment over the past four years have been instrumental in bringing this project from planning to reality.”