City to Study Upgrading 911 System to Accept Texts

The Los Angeles City Council today ordered a study into upgrading the city’s 911 dispatch system to allow Angelenos to report emergencies through text messages.

People who send texts to 911 in Los Angeles now receive a response telling them to speak with the 911 emergency dispatcher over the phone.

The 911 system was implemented 45 years ago, and “the technology hasn’t really kept pace with the rest of society,” said City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who proposed the idea.

Text messaging capability for 911 systems is being adopted in areas such as Vermont and Dallas, he said.

Doing the same in Los Angeles would mean surmounting some “technological hurdles,” Krekorian said, but could prove useful in such scenarios as hostage situations and for those with hearing disabilities.

The motion was seconded by Councilman Joe Buscaino, a former Los Angeles police officer. “Time is of the essence” when reporting emergencies, and text messaging “has got to be an option,” he said.

Texting capability, which often relies on a broadband connection, may also allow people to send photos and videos, according to Krekorian’s motion.

The council, on a 12-0 vote, directed police, fire, information technology and other city officials to report back in six months on what it might take to incorporate texting into the city’s emergency response system.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.