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EMERGENCY 911 SYSTEMS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY (CA), CHICAGO (IL), AND INDIANAPOLIS (IN)

NCJ Number
67067
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
TO HELP ST. LOUIS CITY AND COUNTY DEVELOP A 911 EMERGENCY SYSTEM, THIS REPORT EXAMINES THE 911 SYSTEMS IN CHICAGO AND INDIANAPOLIS AND THE PROPOSED SYSTEM FOR ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIF.
Abstract
ALAMEDA COUNTY IS A 733 SQUARE MILE AREA LOCATED ALONG THE EASTERN EDGE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY WITH 13 CITIES AND AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 1,090,353. IN DEVELOPING THE 911 SYSTEM, THE COUNTY'S 16 POLICE DEPARTMENTS WILL USE SELECTIVE ROUTING WHICH TRANSMITS A CALL FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE TO THE PRIMARY ANSWERING POINT SERVING THE ADDRESS WHERE THE PHONE CALL ORIGINATED. AN AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION (ANI) SYSTEM WILL IDENTIFY THE CALLER'S ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND LOCATION INFORMATION. CHICAGO'S 911 EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM SERVES ONLY THE AREA WITHIN CITY BOUNDARIES, AND ALL CALLS GO THROUGH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. PROBLEMS INCLUDE ONE FORMAL COMPLAINT REGARDING AN UNANSWERED FIRE CALL, LATER ATTRIBUTED TO A HUNG RELAY, AND ABANDONED CALLS WHICH HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED BY AN AUTOMATIC DISCONNECT FEATURE. THE 911 SYSTEM IN INDIANAPOLIS SERVES ALL CITY RESIDENTS, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INITIALLY RECEIVES ALL CALLS. PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED EARLY LONG DISTANCE CALLS FROM 911 EXCHANGES, PRANK AND CURIOSITY CALLS, AND ABANDONED CALLS. ST. LOUIS AREA OFFICIALS SHOULD CONSIDER THE EXPERIENCE OF ALAMEDA COUNTY IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED 911 SYSTEM, OBTAIN INPUT FROM THE EMERGENCY DISPATCHING AGENCIES, AND COORDINATE AGENCY EFFORTS. PLANNING SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE GUIDELINES FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF DISPATCHING AGENCIES, PROCEDURES FOR VERIFYING STREET AND BOUNDARY INFORMATION, AND THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT TO HANDLE 911 TRAFFIC. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)