Communications Division

In case of a life or death emergency, call 9-1-1 or Text-to-9-1-1

The Communications Center is a state of the art emergency operations center equipped with modern technological equipment. This equipment includes a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System, a computerized Motorola Centracom Series II two-way radio system, and a computerized Vesta phone system.

Public Safety Dispatchers 
The Public Safety Dispatchers receive emergency and non-emergency phone calls, enter information on the computer consoles, and communicate by voice or by computer with police units in the field. Fire and ambulance calls are received in Inglewood and transferred to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which serves the city.  Public safety dispatchers have a vital role in public safety.  CA Post has published "Becoming an Exemplary Public Safety Dispatcher" to provide you with valuable information about public safety dispatching. 

1. Emergencies 
   Call 911 for emergencies. Emergency calls are crimes in progress, crimes just occurred (in which the suspect can be apprehended immediately), serious injuries and any other life-threatening situations.
   
   If you have a choice of using an ordinary home or business telephone and not a cellular phone, please do so. Calling 911 from a home or business phone will connect you immediately to the correct police or sheriff's department. 
   
   Although in the future cellular phone technology will make the same ease of use possible, that day is not yet here. Calling 911 from a cellular phone will now connect you to the California Highway Patrol. They can transfer you efficiently to the correct local agency, but there is at least a slight delay. Also, they rely on the accuracy of your description of the location from which you are calling.
   
   Non-Emergency Calls 
   Use 310-412-8771 for non-emergency calls. These are non-life-threatening situations and disturbances such as loud music or loitering. Non-emergency calls also include reports for crimes which did not just occur, crimes which you did not witness and you do not know just when it occurred. Such calls include burglaries, auto thefts, or vandalism which occurred while you were sleeping or absent.
   
   Officers or appropriate civilian personnel will respond to report calls, but these do not have the urgency associated with injuries or crimes in progress. The CAD system classifies calls into high, intermediate, and low priority according to the need for speed. Response time depends upon the priority of the call and what else is happening in the city at the same time.
   
   You may also call the police front desk at 310-412-5210 to make a report by telephone.

2. Text-to-9-1-1

3. Text-to-911 is offered now as a method of reporting an emergency.  Text-to-911 The ability to send a text message to reach 911 emergency call takers from your mobile phone or device. However, because voice calls to 911 provide more information to 911 call centers, you should always make a voice call to 911 during an emergency whenever possible.
   
   For more information on Text-to-911, visit the FCC's website here

4. Text-to-9-1-1 video
   

5. Equipment 
   The Communications Center is a state of the art emergency operations center equipped with modern technological equipment. This equipment includes a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System, a computerized Motorola Centracom Series II two-way radio system, and a computerized Vesta phone system.