According to the Milwaukee Police Department executive committee, it takes more than 5 minutes to answer a 911 emergency call compared to the national standard average of 15 to 20 seconds to answer a 911 call.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
September 10, 2021
Milwaukee, WI - On Friday, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) executive committee (MPD Inspector Nicole Waldner, MPD Chief of Staff Nick DeSiato and Budget Office Dennis Yaccarino) reported to the Milwaukee Common Council Public Safety and Health Committee (PSHC) that the average estimated standard time to answer a 911 call is more than 5 minutes compared to the national standard average time of 15 to 20 seconds to answer an emergency 911 call. To answer a non-emergency call in the City of Milwaukee, the average unofficial time is more than 30 minutes, according to Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, the Chair of the PSHC.
DeSiato told the PSHC when asked how long does it take for a 911 call to be answered, he stated that the average time to answer a 911 emergency call is 5 minutes and 43 seconds or at times it takes 2 minutes or 7 minutes.
Alderman Jose Perez says that he has received many complaints about the slow response to answer non-emergency calls from the 12th Aldermanic District constituents. Many constituents who become frustrated while waiting to talk to someone on the non-emergency call, do actually drop the call after waiting a long time and never do call back, according to the PSHC members.
The MPD officials cited deficiency in staff (lack of employed and trained staff) to answer emergency and non-emergency calls 24/7, especially on holidays. The MPD also doesn't compile data from non-emergency calls and how many calls are dropped by those calling to report alleged low priority crimes, neighborhood drug buys and etc.
The MPD will have a new mobile answering 911 call service, which both the MPD and Milwaukee Fire Department emergency calls will be combined by 2022.
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