During the celebratory chaos of New Years Eve, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department deputies were compelled to rely on traditional methods of radio communication for emergency call response. This response was necessitated by a failure of the agencys computer dispatch system, rendering the patrol vehicle computers practically inert.
Reports of this issue started emerging around 8 p.m., as deputies across various stations had trouble logging onto their patrol vehicle computers. The root cause of this problem has yet to be confirmed but officials have indicated that the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) program was preventing deputies from logging into the system.
While this technical failure was indeed an impediment to the functioning of the department, all essential services such as the 911 lines, body-worn cameras, and emails were operational. However, phone operators had to manually note down emergency details and relay them to dispatchers, which was then communicated to the deputies through radio. Despite the logjams, the deputies were able to respond to calls as they were manually tracked at the station level.
Moving towards a resolution, the department is in collaboration with the LA County partners at the Internal Services Department to find both temporary and long-term solutions. In the wake of this event, Richard Pippin, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, criticized the lack of resources in terms of training, facilities, equipment, and technology. The officials informed KTLA that in December 2023, a formal request for acquiring a more modern and centralized CAD system was made. They also added that the department acknowledges the persistent challenges due to outdated technologies and the Sheriff has emphasized the urgent need for internal systems improvement.
From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.