In a pioneering move for Oregon law enforcement, the Bend Police Department has rolled out a groundbreaking new tool, Live911, aiming to revolutionize emergency response procedures and potentially save lives in the process.
The innovative software, which streams real-time audio of 9-1-1 calls directly to patrol cars, has been hailed by Lieutenant Brian Beekman as a game-changer in law enforcement’s arsenal.
“I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that It will save lives,” Lieutenant Beekman said.
The implementation of Live911 marks a significant milestone for the Bend Police Department.
Having embarked on this journey since 2022, Bend officers conducted extensive research, including a trip to San Diego to witness the system in action, before finally integrating it into their operations.
Live911 operates by streaming 9-1-1 calls directly to officers’ mobile computers in their patrol cars, enabling them to swiftly respond to incidents within their vicinity without the traditional delay associated with dispatcher relay.
By setting up a radius around their vehicles, officers receive real-time alerts for emergencies unfolding nearby, allowing for rapid intervention and potentially shaving precious minutes off response times.
Beekman praised the functionality and accessibility of Live911: “Any emergency 9-1-1 call that happens within that one-mile radius streams real-time audio to their computer in their car. They can hear the call, go there immediately, and it can eliminate two, four, six minutes off of their response time.”
The lieutenant further explained how the system worked.
“This is a queue for calls over here. So, if there were, let’s say, four calls going, they would all stack up in a queue along this portion of the screen,” he told KTVZ 21.
“There are emergency calls that we may not be able to help with, so they’ll dismiss that call and not respond to it. But they will respond to calls that they can make a difference.”
The technology cost the department $11,000, but it was a worthwhile investment, already demonstrating its efficacy in critical situations, with officers successfully intervening in life-threatening emergencies.
For instance, Beekman recounted a recent incident where Live911 played a pivotal role in saving a person’s life during a medical emergency on the east side of town.
Live911 has also facilitated quicker arrests and interventions in various cases, including an assault incident in downtown Bend and a domestic dispute where a man’s life was in imminent danger.
The ability to provide timely assistance and medical care has proven instrumental in preventing tragedies and ensuring the safety of community members.
The adoption of Live911 puts the Bend Police Department at the forefront of using technology to enhance public safety.
Beekman said it was the department’s proactive approach to leveraging technology that enabled them to optimize resources and enhance emergency response capabilities.
“Our city council has a public safety goal around using pieces of technology to help the first responders, to help us resolve calls in a more efficient way, use our staff more efficiently,” Beekman stated.
