Enhanced 9-1-1/CAD (Computer Assisted Dispatch): Interfacing New Technology to Fight Crime

• NCJ Number: 112871
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1988) Pages: 25-29
• Author(s): J Moran; K Layne
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's enhanced 9-1-1 Computer Assisted Dispatch Interface and its uses in fighting crime.

Abstract

The state-of-the-art CAD system became operational in July 1986, in a jurisdiction which serves some 600,000 people, after 5 years in the planning stages. The CAD system includes an enhanced 9-1-1 telephone portion with selective routing to four public safety answering points in the Las Vegas Valley, and automatic number and location identification. Political and technical problems involved in implementing the system included negotiations with the local telephone company about provision of address identification, how to match the telephone company's address file with the department's street file, and information overload by the the officer receiving incoming messages. During the first 6 months of operation, incoming telephone calls increased from 239,119 to 343,535. Other problems such as discrepancies between telephone company and department files, file update, and maintenance are discussed. The benefits to be derived from using 9-1-1/CAD system are described.