Embodiments of the present disclosure describe apparatuses and methods for enabling device-to-device (D2D) functionality for public safety applications. Various embodiments may include an eNB with a radio transceiver to communicate with a UE that includes D2D operation capabilities, and processing circuitry to send the UE a System Information Block (SIB) message to activate one or more public safety functionalities of the UE related to D2D operation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.