NCJ Number
208917
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 84,86,87
Date Published
February 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the wireless E911 project for computer-aided dispatch systems (CAD's) and profiles the Downey Police Department's (California) compliance with the project mandates.
Abstract
The number of cellular phone calls to public safety answering points (PSAP's) has increased dramatically in recent years. It is critical for PSAP's to be able to locate wireless telephone callers quickly and accurately in emergency situations through the transmission of enhanced technology provided by wireless service carriers and public safety software vendors. April 1, 1998, was the deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission for compliance with Phase I of the effort to implement this service throughout the country. This phase requires that PSAP's have access to the 10-digit call-back number, and wireless carriers must be able to locate the exact cell tower through which the call was routed. Currently, approximately 8 percent of PSAP's have complied with Phase I. The deadline for Phase II was October 31, 2001. This phase requires that dispatchers be able to establish the caller's location, using XY (latitude/longitude) coordinates, within a radius of 50 meters 67 percent of the time and 150 meters 95 percent of the time. The reasons so few PSAP's have implemented wireless E911 include lack of equipment, funding, wireless carrier cooperation, and technology. The Downey Police Department's Communications Center has complied with Phase II of the Wireless E911 mandates. During the testing of Phase II, Downey communications operators successfully received 911 calls directly into the communications center from Verizon and AT&T wireless callers. Operators were able to determine the caller's location in less than 2 seconds 90 percent of the time. Using New World Systems' CAD software, 911 operators were instantly notified of a wireless caller, and an icon was displayed on the CAD map, indicating the location of the wireless caller.