Improvements to Arizona’s 911 system can locate callers within 3 feet

PHOENIX (AZFamily) – New technology is changing the way the 911 system operates in Arizona.

The state Department of Administration has rolled out a new, next-generation 911 program over the past two years that will significantly improve emergency responders’ speed of response to emergencies and more accurately locate callers.

Greg Denton, 911 program administrator, said the next-generation 911 system can pinpoint the location of a cell phone caller to within one meter and track people as they move.

Recently, a person was located after being hit by a car and someone picked them up on the side of the road, Denton said.

“This person was able to use their phone and call 911. “Using the next generation 911 system and support systems, she was able to locate that individual during their journey and actually dispatch units to intercede on their behalf,” Denton said.

The technology can also be useful for finding a lost hiker or someone stranded in the desert.

Dispatchers can send 911 callers a link to return video on their phones.

“What they will do is allow the person calling 911 to stream their camera video from their phone into a dispatch center to help them resolve the issue,” Denton said. “It helps first responders get additional information when they’re on scene, whether it’s a medical alert or a crime scene.”

The next-generation 911 call is already operational in 75 dispatch centers across the state. The final three, Phoenix Fire, Phoenix PD and Chandler PD, are scheduled to transition over the next few months.

Karen Sutherland is the city of Scottsdale’s director of support services, which oversees its emergency response center. She said the new system is already making a difference.

“Before the call is even placed, they can start focusing on the cameras, getting a drone up if needed, or doing whatever is necessary so they can keep an eye on the scene,” Sutherland said. “We are literally changing the results by doing this.”

Arizona is one of the first states in the country to adopt the next-gen 911 system nationwide.

Montana, Ohio and New Mexico are in the process of establishing similar programs.

Denton said money for the next-generation 911 system comes from the $0.20 monthly fee that phone customers pay on their bills and from federal grants.

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