Home Antioch Antioch Police Chief Responds to Misleading KPIX Dispatch Center Story

Antioch Police Chief Responds to Misleading KPIX Dispatch Center Story

by ECT

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Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando responded to a KPIX 5 story about how a computer problem crippled the Antioch-Brentwood Dispatch Center.

Here is his response:

Earlier today, KPIX Channel 5 ran a story titled “Antioch, Brentwood 911 Dispatch Center Crippled by Computer Problem.” It is true an equipment failure caused our dispatch center to lose connection to the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for approximately 36 hours. This equipment has been replaced and we are once again a fully functioning dispatch center.

However, while such an occurrence is neither welcomed nor ideal, what happened is a far cry from our 911 center being “crippled,” or the situation warranted being called a “catastrophe.” Please allow me to clarify what I mean, and correct some inaccurate information provided in this news story.

  1. In the story, the reporter said the “computer that dispatches officers to crime scenes stopped working.” In reality, it is not the computer that dispatches officers, it is a dispatcher. That is why people listen to scanners. A dispatcher contacts an officer via the police radio and sends him/her to a call for service. The CAD system is used to augment this verbal radio transmission, but is not necessary to get officers to emergency calls.
  2. In the story, the reporter said dispatching police is “inevitably slower” without CAD because dispatchers have to write down incidents on paper. In reality, this is only partially true. It is correct in that dispatchers were forced to write down incidents on paper. But believe it or not, dispatching officers to crime scenes was done quite effectively prior to computers and/or CAD. Our dispatchers are trained on how to receive, document, and dispatch calls for service in an “old school” manner. In fact, they are very good at it. They have all the necessary equipment and stationary to do so. These skilled veteran dispatchers are adept at communicating effectively and working as a team, and did a phenomenal job ensuring high priority calls for service were dispatched in a timely manner.
  3. In the story, the reporter said without the computer system, officers would be delayed because they were forced to look up incidents using a traditional paper map. Anyone who is familiar with police work, or even just gone on a ride along, can confirm that most officers can get to many of their calls without the use of a map. Their training, experience, and daily patrolling of their beat give them that familiarity. Additionally, several of our officers were raised in Antioch and could find their way around town effectively even on their first day on the job. Again, police work was around long before computers.
  4. In the story, the reporter said that none of the information could be retrieved later because it was not being recorded in a computer database. This is not true for a couple of reasons. First, all calls into our dispatch center, and all radio traffic between the dispatchers and officers is recorded with date and time stamp. These systems were not affected and were functioning throughout the entire CAD outage. We know exactly when a 911 call was received, who took the call, what was said, which officer(s) were dispatched, when they arrived, when they cleared, etc. Secondly, the CAD system we use was built with the knowledge that technology and computers are not infallible, and susceptible to glitches or other problems. They planned for such events and created a mechanism by which we can enter the hand-written information into the CAD system later in a data-entry mode, thereby maintaining accurate historical information on everything that occurred during this outage.

Yes, police work has evolved and the technological advances available to us make our jobs easier. But we, like almost every other professional police organization, adapt to the circumstances with which we are faced and move forward. This is not the first time we, or another police agency, have worked without a computer system, nor will it be the last. These dispatchers and officers have been aware of this possibility, created contingency plans, trained for these moments, and performed their duties safely, professionally, and commendably.

Unfortunately, the misinformation provided in this news story has caused some people to needlessly worry and be concerned for their safety for reasons that just are not true. In no way, and at no time, were the officers working the streets or the public that they serve, placed in danger due to this equipment failure.

I hope this clarifies what happened and puts your mind at ease. I can confidently tell you our officers and dispatchers are among the absolute best in the business.

Sincerely,

Chief Allan Cantando

 

For more information, visit the Antioch Police Department Facebook Page.

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22 comments

Ash Jul 6, 2014 - 9:20 pm

Many many thanks to those dispatchers who worked tirelessly through the CAD system being down. A true test of their amazing skills & abilities of their job.

Jeff and Macky HenselJeff Hensel Jul 6, 2014 - 9:55 pm

Nicely explained Chief. Keep it up.

Traci Hicks Jul 6, 2014 - 9:59 pm

Great response Chief!!
From a Veteran Dispatcher, I started my career before computers & yes when they go down we go “old school”. Pen & paper!

jc Jul 6, 2014 - 10:01 pm

listening to our dispatchers for yrs and know one or two of them,they are highly competent in what they do and are the hub that keeps the officers coordinated, BRAVO ZULU! to them.

JimSimmons42 Jul 6, 2014 - 10:04 pm

I want to say that based off ECT updates over the weekend Antioch PD were busy but did not miss a beat. KPIX should apologize or issue a correction. Well said Chief Cantando.

Tammy Jul 6, 2014 - 10:18 pm

Much respect to out 911 staff and our officers. Keep up the great work and be safe!

joe bryant Jul 6, 2014 - 10:35 pm

Glad to hear it but, how about a 4 point response to the rash of shootings and general mayhem running wild in our little 2 zip code town. my family is scared and I am disappointed in the lack of leadership on this issue. there has not been much media coverage but the people of this good city have noticed. All the while “our leaders” have been silent!

Kris Jul 6, 2014 - 10:43 pm

Antioch is crippled by the daily shootings! I moved out yrs ago but still work there. Its turning into richmond! This city needs to do something NOW to keep
It from fully hitting rock bottom.

Sherry Jul 7, 2014 - 7:03 am

I agree with Kris. I moved out of Richmond to Antioch over 40 years ago. Antioch was at that time a quiet little town. However, I now call Antioch ‘Little Oakland’.

Reginald Jamal Brown Jul 7, 2014 - 10:37 am

Be careful Sherry. The criminal supporters who go on this site will call you a racist.

Julie Jul 6, 2014 - 11:01 pm

Very well said!!

Dan Jul 7, 2014 - 5:12 am

Thank You chief for a well written and timely response to this matter. We appreciate your support

michelle Jul 7, 2014 - 6:01 am

Well said Chief and we have the greatest dispatches. I have seen them work and it is amazing

Troy Jul 7, 2014 - 6:39 am

Thank You Chief, You’re the best I just hope some “big” city doesn’t swoop in and steal you from our “small” town anytime soon!!! Keep up the great work Sir!!!!

Vote of no confidence for Chief Cantando. Jul 7, 2014 - 9:23 am

Wow, so much support for Chief Cantando. What a joke. He’s a horrible chief that cares only about himself. His officers are over worked, exhausted and he could care less. The entire administration is a joke. Someone needs to really do some homework on the Chief…

Julio Jul 7, 2014 - 11:48 am

Vote of NO…..You are the same slimy ex-cop that has been spreading rumors for years and years. Remember karma……….

Thank you Chief!

Vote of No Jul 7, 2014 - 12:27 pm

Not an ex cop, but thanks Julio.

Linda Jul 7, 2014 - 9:40 am

Thanks for the response Chief Cantando. So often the media intensifies the truth in the news.

dave Jul 7, 2014 - 10:38 am

I own a business in town and have seen the changes. I repeatedly call the police daily drug/and prostitution on the corner. It usually takes average of 2 to 3 hours. Guess what?they left or moved.what I find ridiculous is that the dispatchers and officers have the excuses down pat.This town will get worse before it gets better

Clean it up Jul 7, 2014 - 11:06 am

I don’t know what scanner you people listen to, but Antioch’s night dispatchers are terrible. They have no right being on the radio. They will get someone killed.

EastCountyToday Jul 7, 2014 - 2:29 pm

@Vote No (AKA Clean it up, Vote of no confidence)…. Knock it off and stick to one name. I have no problem removing your posts and banning you. Stick with one name (preferably your real one) please.

Rob Saw Jul 7, 2014 - 2:06 pm

@Vote No,

Really easy to run your mouth behind a fake name. I hope ECT exposes your identity or you be man enough to stand behind your real name. You fraud!

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