LA considers big changes for 911 dispatch - Los Angeles

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
12/11/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Move could save city $3.2 million.

Los Angeles officials are mulling the possibility of replacing the city's LAFD 911 dispatchers and replacing them with a civilian workforce. The proposal would also include switching the workers from a 24-hour shift to a standard 8-hour workday. The move would save the city an estimated $3.2 million per year.

An LAFD dispatcher handles a call. Photo, LA Times.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Los Angeles city 911 dispatchers are paid an average of $95,000 per year in base salary, however they are also highly-trained LAFD first-responders.

Yet, despite their training, the 911 dispatchers have received criticism and come under scrutiny because of relatively slow response times. Dispatchers blame 30-year old equipment including computers that sometimes crash the system.

The LAFD also warns that if civilians replace trained LAFD personnel in the dispatch centers, it could exacerbate, not alleviate problems. Naturally, if such a change harms innocent victims, then no amount of savings is worth it.

However, something must be done soon. The system is already overloaded that callers frequently have to hold after dialing 911, and that is a dangerous situation for everyone.

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Keywords: Los Angeles, 911, LAFD

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