San Diego County Sheriff Uses AI on Non-Emergency Calls
San Diego County Sheriff Uses AI on Non-Emergency Calls
Publish Date: 2026-03-13 16:35:00
Source Domain: www.govtech.com
- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office (SDSO) has utilized an AI-powered automated system to handle non-emergency calls, diverting them from the 911 dispatch center to improve response times and reduce dispatcher workload.
- The new system, provided by Hyper, commenced on March 6th, following a year of integration and evaluation.
- This transition addresses issues where non-emergency calls were often delayed due to prioritization of 911 calls, leading to waits of five to ten minutes for non-urgent matters.
- The AI system is designed to prioritize non-emergency calls based on their nature, which helps in enhancing the overall efficiency of the call processing center.
- Similar AI systems have been adopted by other jurisdictions, including Washington state’s Tri-Cities area and the Toronto Police Service, highlighting a broader trend towards using AI to streamline non-emergency call handling.
- The primary benefit for the 911 dispatchers is increased availability for true emergency calls as non-emergency calls are no longer handled by them, leading to potentially quicker response times for emergencies.
- AI technology aims to improve interactions between residents and government on all fronts, with the aspiration that every call, similar to a 911 call, receives an immediate and appropriate response.
