A Los Angeles Times story today reports on Long Beach’s troubled method for handling emergency 911 calls, pointing out that Long Beach is the largest city in Southern California that does not directy answer wireless 911 calls.
The articles tells the story of Kyon Salaam, who attempted to report a frightening traffic collision but was confused by repeated recorded answers to his 911 calls. Salaam’s mother ran home and was quickly put through when she called from a land line. Rich Connell writes:
Instead, every month, several thousand cellular 911 calls like Salaam’s are routed first to a California Highway Patrol communications center north of downtown Los Angeles. Calls that get through and involve Long Beach emergencies are then transferred back to the city’s police dispatch center.
It’s a detour that can be risky when seconds matter, and one that the vast majority of cities in the state have eliminated in recent years.
The story paints the city’s practice as outdated and potentially dangerous if immediate assistance is needed. Long Beach is being pushed to change the method and have been shown the examples of cities like Torrance and Pasadena that have no trouble answering wireless calls. But the city is worried that too many operators will be needed to man the phone lines, and claims that – no surprise here – a study will be needed to assess the possibilities.
The story also notes that making the transition can be difficult.
After the Los Angeles Police Department began taking wireless calls in 2006, delays grew significantly, exceeding state standards for several months. The department received three to four times as many cellular calls as the CHP had been transferring, said LAPD Lt. Diljeet Singh. Wireless calls now make up more than half the roughly 2 million 911 calls the agency receives every year, he said.
The city gradually adjusted to the added call load, as well as new computer systems, and now is nearing compliance with state standards again, Singh said.
The articles notes that Long Beach seemed to be warming to the idea last year, and that Police Chief Tony Batts would rather have the calls answered directly. No action has yet been taken, though. The article ends:
“It’s going to happen eventually,” said Mike Mawn, coordinator of the city’s police communications center. “I just don’t know when.”
Long Beach Police Department direct phone line
(562) 435-6711
Long Beach Fire Department direct phone line
(562) 570-1286
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor