GILROY
– By pressing three little buttons on a cellular phone, a whole
network of lifesaving efforts is launched. Callers may not know
where their 911 call goes in an emergency situation.
GILROY – By pressing three little buttons on a cellular phone, a whole network of lifesaving efforts is launched. Callers may not know where their 911 call goes in an emergency situation. In the Gilroy area, there are three places for the call to be routed:
• All 911 calls from a seven digit hard line phone within Gilroy city limits will be connected to the Gilroy Police Department.
• All 911 calls from hard line phones in unincorporated areas will be connected to the County Communications Center, located in San Jose. This site serves all unincorporated Santa Clara County.
• All 911 calls from cellular phones are put through to the California Highway Patrol.
Cellular calls are connected to various CHP centers depending on the phone’s proximity to tagging sites. The Monterey area center receives all calls from South Santa Clara, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. CHP will determined the location of the emergency, nature of the incident, and name and number of the caller. After they enter an emergency log into the computer, they can decide which agency is best fit to respond.
Regardless of who picks up the call, all dispatchers need to ascertain the same information – the location of the emergency and a synopsis of the problem.
Dispatchers can view an ALI, automatic line identification and ANI, automatic number identification, for all hard-line phone calls. Although this database provides the location and number of the phone where the call was made, the dispatcher will verify the location of the emergency.
The ALI and ANI are unavailable for cellular calls. CHP will therefore ask for the caller’s name and number for records.
If a caller dials 411, and ask for the police, the operator will ask for the location of the emergency and then connect the caller to the nearest agency. These calls are put through on an emergency line, 842-0191. ALI and ANI are not available through this number.
Call boxes are also located on county highways and freeways. They are available for public use in any emergency situation. CHP picks up the line and will gather information regarding the incident. The dispatcher will then direct the call to the appropriate agency. Call boxes are most frequently used to report broken down vehicles.
California Highway Patrol suggests programing 911 into the memory of cellular phones to ensure quicker and safer calls during emergencies. Insist on a demonstration of how to use your phone safely or read the owner’s manual for directions.
