Bay Area

City Completes Upgrade of Dispatch System for 911 Emergencies

“Oaklanders deserve to feel assured that when they dial 911 in an emergency, someone will be answering swiftly to start dispatching the emergency responders they need,” said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Public safety is my administration’s highest priority,” she said. “This system improvement builds on the investments we have made to staff up our hardworking dispatcher units. Now we have more people using better tools to deliver for our community.”

Published

8 months ago

September 8, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo: iStock photo

By Post Staff

The City of Oakland announced this week that the police and fire departments have launched the city’s new Motorola PremiereOne Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, the most significant public safety technology project that the city has undertaken in the past two decades.

The upgraded system replaces the old CAD system that was no longer supported by Motorola. The process of finalizing the project and installing it took several months.

On the morning of July 30, dispatchers began receiving calls on the new system.

“Public safety is my administration’s highest priority,” she said. “This system improvement builds on the investments we have made to staff up our hardworking dispatcher units. Now we have more people using better tools to deliver for our community.”

The new CAD system is fully functional, highly secure, and makes public safety communications more efficient, using integrated equipment and interagency information sharing capabilities, according to a statement released by the city.

“The launch of our new PremierOne CAD system provides our Communications Division with a state-of-the-art platform for 9-1-1 dispatch,” said Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell. “CAD provides an enhanced user interface that supports our dispatchers in their daily tasks and seamlessly integrates with other information systems to support a more coordinated and effective response.”

“As the volume of 911 calls climb, our firefighters and medical service units deserve the best tools possible to help with a timely, well-informed response,” said Fire Chief Damon Covington.

“This work represents contributions from many individuals, and I especially want to recognize those from the Information Technology Department,” said Chief Information Officer Tony Batalla.

The City has increased the percentage of 911 calls answered to within 15 seconds – the industry standard for pickup time. In early 2023, Oakland was meeting that standard for 36% of 911 calls. In August 2024, that percentage had increased to 51%.

The City of Oakland Media relations office is the source of this report.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025

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Asm. Corey Jackson Proposes Safe Parking for Homeless College Students Sleeping in Cars

Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of AB 90, which would require community colleges and California State University campuses to create overnight parking programs where students can sleep safely in their vehicles. With one in four community college students in California experiencing homelessness in the past year, Jackson says the state must act urgently.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Corey Jackson. File photo.

By Bo Tefu
California Black Media

As California’s housing crisis continues to impact students, new legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 90, promises to allow college students without stable housing to sleep in their cars on campus, offering a stark but practical solution aimed at immediate relief.

“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” he said at a recent hearing.

The bill passed its first committee vote and is gaining attention as housing affordability remains a top concern across the state. California rents are more than 30% above the national average, and long waitlists for student housing have left thousands in limbo. CSU reported more than 4,000 students on its housing waitlist last year.

Supporters stress that the bill is not a long-term solution, but a humane step toward helping students who have no other place to go. A successful pilot program at Long Beach City College has already shown that safe, supervised overnight parking can work, giving students access to restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a secure environment.

However, the CSU and community college systems oppose the bill, citing funding concerns. Critics also worry about safety and oversight. But Jackson and student advocates argue the crisis demands bold action.

“If we know students are already sleeping in their cars, why not help them do it safely?” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.