Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Consultant report recommends keeping 911 call taking within APD

fox7austin.com · 2hShare

After Austin City Council voted to create a standalone 911 call taker center — instead of it being housed under the Austin Police Department — a consultant report found a standalone center "does not inherently" improve performance. The report also found ways the current structure could be better. Austin's Joint Emergency Communications department In August, City Council approved creating a Joint Emergency Communications department. The initial idea was it could improve response times, especially for mental health calls. Council Member Krista Laine (District 6) says another issue is being connected to the right agency. Much of her district is in Williamson County. "What happens over and over again to my constituents is they dial 9-1-1, they're connected to the incorrect agency, they're transferred back and forth," she said. What did the report say? A consultant report from Mission Critical Partners, which Council requested last year, recommends keeping 911 call taking within APD, becaus

First report: Consultant: 911 call-taking should stay within APD — kxan.com, 1d