NCJ Number
63018
Date Published
1969
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A COMMITTEE STUDYING THE POSSIBLE USE OF 911 FOR THE LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA FOUND SEVERAL BASIC PROBLEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO JURISDICTIONAL AND BOUNDARY DIFFERENCES.
Abstract
THE COMMITTEE FACED (1) TECHNICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE LIMITATION OF 911 EQUIPMENT DESIGN, (2) THE FUNCTIONAL PROBLEM OF COORDINATING THE SEPARATE DISPATCHING OF FIRE, POLICE, AND AMBULANCE SERVICES WITHIN EACH CENTRAL OFFICE AREA; AND (3) THE OPERATIONAL PROBLEM OF WHERE TO TERMINATE 911 LINES AND HOW TO ROUTE AND TRANSFER CALLS FROM THE RECEIVING POINT TO THE PROPER DISPATCHING SERVICE. THE COMMITTEE PROPOSED THAT A TRIAL PROJECT BE DEVELOPED BY THE AGENCIES INVOLVED, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: THAT POLICE, FIRE AND AMBULANCE SERVICES BE THE ONLY SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE 911 SYSTEM AND THAT DISPATCHING OPERATIONS NOT BE COMBINED; THAT EXISTING EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCIES HANDLE ALL 911 CALLS; THAT 911 ANSWERING POINTS BE LOCATED ON A DECENTRALIZED BASIS; AND THAT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY PROVIDE 'DIAL 0 FOR EMERGENCY' PROCEDURES AS A BACKUP FOR 911. THIS TEST WOULD BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES: USE OF THE 911 SYSTEM BY EMERGENCY AGENCIES BUT NOT FOR THE PUBLIC, AND AVAILABILITY OF 911 FOR PUBLIC USE. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WOULD LAST FROM 3 TO 6 MONTHS, DEPENDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE SYSTEM, THE VOLUME OF CALLS RECEIVED, AND THE TIME NEEDED FOR EVALUATION. THE COST TO LOS ANGLELES WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $125 FOR INSTALLATION AND $200 MONTHLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE TEST. (AOP)