Community Notifications

Notifications in Axon Community give administrators powerful tools to shape clear, timely communication with the public. Admins can customize message templates, define quiet hours, and set automated rules for pre-arrival, delayed-arrival, and post-contact messaging. The platform also offers full visibility into message history, ensuring every interaction can be reviewed and understood.

Community Notifications keeps community members informed at crucial moments during a call for service. Automatic SMS updates can be sent before officers arrive, when a response is delayed, and after contact is made. By delivering real-time information and setting accurate expectations, the system improves efficiency, strengthens transparency, and supports safer, more predictable encounters for everyone.

Only agency administrators can access and configure Community Notification settings.

Overview

Community Notifications allows agencies to deliver automatic text updates to 911 callers at three key stages of a response:

  • Pre-Arrival: Messages sent before officers reach the scene.
  • Delayed Arrival: Alerts triggered when response time exceeds an agency-defined threshold.
  • Post-Contact: Follow-up messages or survey links sent after the call is closed.

Administrators can tailor message templates, control when updates are delivered, and set timing rules based on call type. All messages automatically draw the relevant details from your CAD system, ensuring communication is timely, accurate, and consistent.

Watch this video to learn more.

Permissions

  • Administrator: Has full access to all features and settings within Notify.
  • Manage Template and Rules: Can manage message templates, links, call types, and all rule configurations within the system.
  • View / Export Message History: Cannot modify any settings or rules. This role is limited to viewing and exporting message history.

At launch, Community Notifications will be available to customers using a Fusus CAD Core integration. In the first half of 2026, additional connection options will be released, expanding access so all customers can take advantage of Notifications.

Settings and configuration

Master On/Off toggle

  1. Select the Admin tab.
  2. From Evidence Settings, select Community Notifications.

Administrators can manage a master toggle, which allows the agency to turn all messaging on or off without Axon support. While disabled, messages will not be queued or stored. When re-enabled, new messages begin sending immediately. Messages that would have been sent during the disabled period will be discarded and not delivered.

Post-contact quiet hours

Quiet hours prevent post-contact messages from sending during specific time periods (such as overnight).

  1. From the General Settings tab, select Post-Contact Quiet Time.
  2. Choose the desired start and end times.
  3. Any post-contact messages triggered during quiet hours will automatically queue and send once the quiet period ends.

Pre-Arrival and Delayed Arrival messages are not affected by quiet hours and will send based upon the specified timing if enabled.

Message templates

Templates define the content of each automated message, and agencies can create multiple templates based on their needs.

To create a new template:

  1. Select the Templates tab.
  2. Select Create Template.
  3. Enter a Template Name.
  4. Add message text (up to 800 characters).
  5. Insert Variables pulled from CAD data.
  6. Optionally, insert links.
  7. Select Save.
  8. Set the template status to Active.

Preview message templates

  1. Select Preview in the template view.
  2. Choose a verified user and send a test message.
  3. The preview message uses sample data.
  4. A confirmation message appears when the message sends successfully.
  1. Select Add Link.
  2. Enter a link name, description, and full URL.
  3. Save the link.
  4. Use the Insert Link dropdown when editing templates.

Manage Call Types and Message Rules

Importing Call / Incident Types

  1. Open the Call Type Manager tab.
  2. Download the call template (CSV).
  3. Add your agency’s CAD call type and a corresponding friendly name.
  4. Import the updated CSV back into the system.

Managing Rules and Message Types

  1. Select a call type and select the Edit icon.
  2. Activate the desired message types.
  3. Assign templates for each message type.
  4. Set message timing for Pre-Arrival, Delayed Arrival, and Post-Contact.
  5. Select Save.

Message History

The Message History tab provides a complete record of all notification activity.

  • Incident or call number
  • Message type
  • Call type
  • Recipient information and delivery status

Filters can be applied and records can be exported in formats including CSV, Excel, JSON, and PDF.

Permissions

Users with Admin, Manage, or View Message History access can view this information.