dallaspolice.net
DALLAS (AP) – Dallas is using police officers to help staff its 911 call center as the city contends with chronic staffing shortages that have contributed to long wait times for people calling about emergencies.
City council members have expressed concern that officers are being taken off their patrols to staff the call center at a time when the police department is facing its own staffing shortfall.
Officials say progress is being made in reducing the spike in wait times that have plagued the call center in recent months.
There’ve been times when hundreds of 911 calls were placed on hold and it may have contributed to delays in emergency response for two people who died in separate incidents.
Officials have previously said technological glitches were fixed and have helped reduce the spike in wait times.
