Police Stations Switching To Next-Gen Technology

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Several police stations in California have begun to replace their old emergency 911 systems with newer, digital versions that can transfer more data faster for more accurate location data. The new technology can help first responders arrive at the scene of the emergency much faster.

Aside from improving location services, the new technology can transfer emergency calls to the correct 911 dispatch center, thus reducing response times. First responders also gain the added benefit of the technology generating a travel route to the emergency, as well as enhanced mapping.

The improved call-routing technology should be complete by the year 2020, after replacing the 25 year old computer aided dispatch system.

DATAMARK, a communications technology company, has partnered with several counties in California to provide the system upgrades for the 911 dispatch centers.

The new 911 technology replaces traditional technology with newer IP networks, dubbed Emergency Service IP Networks (ESInet). ESInet has the ability to transfer more complicated data such as text and multimedia. However in order for this technology to be fully accessible, police stations nationwide need to upgrade both computer software and hardware.

DATAMARK has plans to upgrade systems all across the state. Govtech.com reports that nearly every community or county in the United States is making plans to upgrade to the next generation 911 operating systems.

According to a report by the National 911 program, by February 2018, 28 states already had next generation 911 infrastructure in their police centers.