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Sheriff's office to distribute emergency cell phones

12/30/2008
GARY DEMUTH

A new program to distribute free, 911-access-only cell phones to people at risk was announced Tuesday by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office will administer the program in partnership with Secure the Call, a national nonprofit that collects and distributes cell phones through a network of community partners in 40 states.
Secure the Call takes donated cell phones, purges them of all personal data, cleans and charges them, and then packages them with a charger and instructions, according to Saline County Sheriff Glen Kochanowski.
“They’re all ready to give out when we get them,” Kochanowski said in a written statement. “While they no longer have a carrier and can’t be used to place normal calls, they are able to access our emergency 911 service.”
About two-thirds of refurbished cell phones will go to senior citizens or domestic violence victims who might temporarily be without a cell phone. The sheriff’s office will collect donated phones at 251 N. 10th.
Area residents in need of a free phone can call the sheriff’s office at 826-6500. Donors also can download a tax deductible donation receipt from Secure the Call’s Web site at www.securethecall.org.