New 911 system designed to handle new technology
Santa Monica’s aging 911 system is about to get nearly $1 million in improvements.
While most of the system will be paid for by the state and federal funds, the cash-strapped city is being asked to allocate tens of thousands of dollars toward the project.
The $800,000 system will dispatch both fire and police calls — which is scheduled to begin next year. It also will be able to handle wireless callers and give emergency operators a map on their computer screens showing where any land-line calls are originating.
Currently when a cell phone user dials 911, the call is automatically placed to a state law enforcement network which then routes the report to the local municipality. If the call originates from a land line, it is directly routed to the city’s fire or police department. The new system will route all calls into Santa Monica’s network.
Officials stress the current system is in good working condition but an upgrade will be necessary to ensure it can be maintained and is compatible with new technology. There also is new state and federal regulations that require an upgraded system, officials said.
“There is newer equipment out there and we want to take advantage of that technology,” said Eric Uller, the city’s lead public safety systems analyst. “This will take us into the next five years and make sure it can be maintained and supported. Our current system wasn’t designed to last 10 years, it was designed to last five years and it has done that well.”
Every five years the state of California provides funds to local police departments to help modernize their emergency response system, but this year Sacramento’s projected contribution falls $450,000 short.
“The state has changed its formula so we do not get as much funding now,” Uller said. “It was essential for us to find new fund- The Santa Monica City Council is being asked at its meeting tonight to appropriate $316,986, most of which will come from federal block grant funds the city has been awarded over the past two years. Though the amount will not cover the entire gap, officials believe funds will become available in the next year.
“This number will ensure that police and fire continue to operate at their current service levels,” Uller wrote in a report to the city council. “Any cost savings will be applied toward replacement of other emergency 911 system components, or to purchase additional dispatch workstation equipment to ensure room for growth and improvements in emergency preparedness.”
Besides giving 911 operators more flexibility and information on calls they receive, the new system will allow operators to more quickly input information into the computer system, giving police officers in the field a better picture of what they face.
Uller said state and federal regulations aim to incorporate Global Positioning System technology into cell phones to give 911 operators an idea of where the wireless callers are located.
“We want to make sure our system will be able to handle any new technology as soon as it becomes available,” he said.
“We want to make sure our system will be able to handle any new technology as soon as it becomes available.” — — ERIC ULLER Public safety systems analyst
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 23, 2002. Read the original PDF.