Kansas City leaders look to unify 911 dispatch system with police, fire to address long wait times
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Tuesday, Kansas City leaders moved forward with a proposal to create a unified 911 dispatch system for the police and fire departments as long wait times continue.
The average hold time sits around 41 seconds for 2024, with the worst month so far being July with an average wait of 52 seconds.
On Tuesday, city leaders met at the Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee meeting and approved the resolution directing the City Manager to propose to the Board of Police Commissioners the creation of a unified 911 dispatch system for both the Police and Fire Departments.
Previous Coverage: Mayor blasts 911 hold times, shares traumatic story of newborn in ICU after parents sit on hold
The main issues they are hearing are long wait times and the need for more staff.
“We can’t just settle lawsuits, we can’t just you know kind of say it is something that is going to be fixed later these are very real issues,” said Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas. He added, “My hope is that staff does the very clear work to say this is a fixable problem.”
City staff are now working on creating this proposal to eventually send to the Board of Police Commissioners.
In a statement Tuesday, the Kansas City Fire Department showed its for the resolution.
“The Kansas City Fire Department is aware of and s the resolution ed by the City Council today authorizing the City Manager to work with both the Kansas City Fire Department and Kansas City Police Department to find a solution to the 911 wait times. The Kansas City Fire Department is committed to ensuring the citizens of Kansas City receive the best possible service and will assist the City Manager and KD in any way necessary.”
Mayor Lucas said this step shows that the city can address these problems and find innovative solutions for all.
“If technology is part of the answer then I would expect us to find that technological answer as soon as possible,” said Lucas. “To have a clear proposal on how we can either unify the systems at PD and FD, or how through the Mid America Regional Council will look to have calls answered with partner agencies. But I think this is showing that city council - and I think the people of Kansas City ultimately - are fed up with these waits, are fed up with not having confidence that when they call 911 somebody is going to answer in a timely manner on the other end of the line.”
Also Read: Apartments, retail, restaurants: $140M project takes shape where vacant Kmart sat in Merriam
Those with KD shared they are aware of this discussion going before the council this week and said they continue to make strides in hiring more staff for the 911 call center.
Currently, KD has the fewest number of vacancies it has had in months.
The department is sitting at:
- 26 vacancies
- 12 in training (2 dispatcher trainees, 10 call taker trainees)
Lucas said people need to be able to call 911 and know someone will pick up.
He is hopeful the Board of Police Commissioners is accepting of these solutions.
“If they are unwilling to at the very least we take our emergency calls, our medical, our fire calls, back under the city’s I guess auspices, to come up with some way that we are addressing those faster as well.”
He said it doesn’t make sense to spend millions of dollars on public safety if the main way of ing them is unreachable.
“We can have the best everything if people can’t get through to that first step in the system we are failing them and I think we are wasting money down the line,” said Lucas.
This resolution heads to the City Council on Thursday.
The first time it could be heard by the Board of Police Commissioners would be at its Oct. 29 meeting.
ALSO READ: Drones, partnerships and mandatory overtime: How some Kansas City leaders want to change policing
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
