After years of relying on the California Highway Patrol for the service, the city of Long Beach will begin to use its own Emergency Dispatchers to answer local wireless 9-1-1 calls, according to a press release sent out this morning. The City previously believed that answering its own wireless emergency calls would require too many operators and be too costly.
Previously, wireless emergency calls had to be transferred to the CHP, then transferred to the necessary public safety agency, wasting valuable seconds. The new process is being transitioned in and should be fully operational by early 2009. The CHP will still handle calls concerning freeways.
“Long Beach prides itself with having some of the fastest response times to emergency calls for service within the State of California,” said Police Chief Anthony Batts. Adding this level of assistance for wireless customers demonstrates our progressive nature in providing our residents with excellent customer service.”
Long Beach was previously the largest city in Southern California to rely on outside help in answering its wireless emergency calls.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor