In an press conference today held at the Emergency Operation Center, Mayor Bob Foster announced that the city of Long Beach is taking precautionary measures to ensure residents’ safety by answering wireless 9-1-1 calls made within city limits directly. The new system will quicken response time by thirty to sixty seconds, whereas in previously all wireless emergency phone calls were directed to CHP dispatchers, who then transferred calls to Long Beach Communication Centers after calls were screened.
“The City of Long Beach is improving public safety by directly answering wireless 9-1-1 calls for service made within City limits. By reducing the response time to emergency call, Long Beach is taking another step closer to our goal of becoming the safest city in California,” Foster said.
According to Deputy Chief J.J. Craig, 92% of emergency dispatch calls are answered within ten seconds, which is above the State standard. “It is very impressive when Long Beach handles between 650,000-700,000 phone calls per service year,” he said.
The new influx of calls will not affect the current city’s budget or employment, since it was accounted for within the budget over a year ago.
In Nov. 2008, the City of Long Beach began working with Los Angeles County and six major wireless carriers to phase in the responsibility of answering wireless emergency calls.
Last Tue., March 10, Long Beach joined LA-RICS, which is a modern integrated wireless system that will support more than 34,000 first responders and local mission-critical personnel within region, that was funded by Homeland Security Grant Funds. With approximately $5 million, Long Beach purchased handheld and vehicle-mounted radios and communication center upgrades. The radios will allow first responders to communicate with other first responders in neighboring jurisdictions.
“The City of Long Beach is committed to using technology to improve the service we provide to our residents and businesses,” Fire Chief David Ellis said.
The CHP will continue answering wireless emergency calls made from the vicinity of freeways throughout California, regardless of city boundaries, according to Long Beach Public Information Office.
Mayor Foster gave a few tips when residents are using a wireless device to report an emergency:
1. Know where you are calling from
2. Be a good witness
3. Stay calm and speak clearly
4. Listen and answers the dispatcher’s questions
5. Stay on the phone until you are told it is safe to hang up.
Residents are advised to call (562) 435-6711 for all non-emergencies to contact Long Beach Police and Fire department.
Deputy Fire Chief Alan Patalano speaks during the press conference.
Ricklyn Hukriede is a contributing news reporter and current journalism student at Long Beach City College.