LASD finds temporary fix for dispatch system that crashed on New Year's Eve
After days of resorting to old techniques to track calls for service when their dispatch system crashed, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says that they've successfully found a temporary fix for the issue.
The Computer Aided Dispatch system, which the department says is nearly 40 years old, began to experience problems at around 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve, which was noticed when patrol stations were having difficulty logging onto their patrol car's mobile digital computers.
It persisted for days, with stations instead turning back to manually tracking when and where deputies were dispatched.
"We have been working urgently to patch this problem with our County partners and Internal Technology and Support Division personnel," a statement from LASD said on Friday evening. "As a result, all patrol stations can now receive calls for service through their mobile digital computers in their patrol vehicles."
Though not a longterm fix, department officials say that the temporary solution will allow deputies to fully resume their responsibilities, including running license plates and receiving pertinent call information.
They say that the CAD program was not allowing deputies or other department employees to log in "with the new year," which made the program inoperable.
Despite this, radio communications and 911 lines remained fully operational throughout the entire duration of the issue.
"Our Deputies consistently meet the challenges they face with determination and resilience, working tirelessly to deliver the highest quality public safety services to our communities," the statement said.
Department officials say that they have "long struggled with outdated technology" and that since he took office, Sheriff Robert Luna has stressed how important "upgrading and enhancing our internal systems" is.
He has developed a multi-year equipment replacement plan for the department, which ensures fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability at the same time, the statement said.
"By planning for the replacement of outdated equipment in the Department, we can manage costs, avoid unexpected expenses, and maintain efficient operations, all while prioritizing critical needs and preventing future budget strain," according to the LASD release.
He secured initial funding in Jan. 2023 for a new and modernized CAD system and later that year he issued a formal request for proposals to acquire a centralized CAD. Department officials say they are testing a potential new system starting next week at several patrol stations.
"Our teams worked hard and used considerable talent and creativity in developing this temporary fix to an archaic system," the statement said. "Despite this achievement, this most recent breakdown was a harsh and dramatic warning. It demonstrated that the system must be replaced urgently with a modern, centralized CAD which will enhance efficiency, resolve integration issues, improve compliance with various local, state, and federal mandates, and reduce liability."
