New study examines how Canadian police use emergency alerts

Mandy Maier joins CTV to chat about a new study on police use of emergency alerts and whether they are an effective tool.

Cell phones have become a key tool for keeping the public informed during emergencies, and mandatory alerting systems give police a way to reach people quickly with critical updates.

But how do police decide when and how to issue alerts to ensure the public is informed without causing alert fatigue?

Saskatchewan-based graduate student Mandy Maier, through Mount Saint Vincent University, looked to answer that question. Her research included interviews with eight Canadian police service representatives and a public survey of 486 participants, examining how police balance operational challenges, tools, and public expectations when communicating urgent safety information.

“The core of this research was to figure out what was happening across Canada, because there is so little insight into what police do when it comes to emergency alerting,” she said. “One recommendation was the public education piece, encouraging police to explain how public alerting works, so people know how it’s used and how to manage what’s happening.”

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Maier’s research shows police constantly weigh competing demands: responding to multiple incidents, ensuring alerts are credible, and meeting public expectations for immediate information.

“Thirty minutes in the lifespan of an incident can be an eternity in a policing context,” she said.

The study resulted in three key recommendations for Canadian police services:

1. Public education: Increase awareness of emergency alerts so communities understand how and when they are issued.
2. Build trust: Ensure alerts are reliable and provide timely, credible information, so the public uses official sources rather than turning to social media or other less reliable channels.
3. Training and practice: Police should train all staff on emergency alerts, regularly test protocols, and involve communications teams in operational responses.

“What I’ve learned in my research, is that police services across the country have drastically different approaches to public alerting,” Maier said. “Now is the time for services to come together, work with those who manage the national public alerting system, and create consistent processes, training, and protocols. That way, they’re ready to serve the public as quickly as possible.”

The research underscores that emergency alerts are not a question of if, but when. Maier’s study, published by Mount Saint Vincent University, highlights the opportunity for police to examine and improve their alerting procedures and strengthen public trust.

A full in-depth analysis on Maier’s study can be found online.