Windsor police's 911 Communications Centre has stepped up its game.
A successful transition to the Next Generation 911 (NG9-1-1) system was officially rolled out on Tuesday, a game changer in how emergency calls are handled.
"The launch of NG9-1-1 will significantly impact how the Windsor Police Service responds to real-time emergencies," said Windsor Police Deputy Chief of Operation Support Karel DeGraaf. "By providing our 9-1-1 communicators with more accurate data and better situational awareness, NG9-1-1 will support faster response times and help us better serve our community. This important upgrade would not have been possible without the Ontario Government’s meaningful investment in public safety."
The upgrades now let call-takers process more accurate location and caller information, as well as enhance backup systems to avoid disruptions or outages.
Another key feature is the use of auto text-back for abandoned 911 calls, which frees up dispatchers and allows for shorter call wait times. It is ideal for callers who may be hearing impaired or unable to speak. Images and video clips may be transmitted in this fashion.
The provincial government provided Windsor police with $1.7-million since 2022 to make the upgrade happen.
"By supporting this vital upgrade, we’re ensuring that the Windsor Police Service can respond faster and keep our community safe," said Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie. "I’m proud to see this innovation happening right here at home."
The 911 Communications Centre in downtown Windsor handles both 911 and non-emergency calls for the City of Windsor and the Town of Amherstburg. Last year, the system handled an average of 1,206 calls per day or 50 calls per hour.
NG9-1-1 is mandated through the Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission (CRTC).