System For 911 Calls Upgraded
The Corona, Calif., police dispatch system is implementing new technology that will allow wireless 911 calls to go directly to the intended city rather than through the California Highway Patrol.
Under the old system, all area cellular 911 calls went through the CHP dispatch center in San Bernardino. After receiving the call, the CHP would determine what law enforcement agency would have jurisdiction.
With the new setup, cellular calls made in the city of Corona will be automatically routed to the city’s dispatchers based on antenna towers, while calls made from the freeways will continue going to the CHP. This can save time because the caller will not have to first tell the CHP his story before being transferred and having to repeat everything, said Corona Police Dispatch Supervisor Laura Dunn.
In addition, Corona police have introduced new technology that will allow them locate emergency calls. Although the E-911 system does not provide directions that are as specific as a landline, it does give latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates that can be translated into addresses dispatchers can send to officers.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Riverside Press-Enterprise (CA) (10/16/05) P. B1; Bjelland, Sonja .
