The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s computer dispatch system crashed for the second time in just one month, making patrol vehicles useless and once again forced deputies to process the phone via radio.
According to the department, the 38-year-old computer-aided dispatch system, known as CAD, landed on New Year’s Eve, when a Y2K-style glitch “does not allow people to log in to the New Year.”
Three days later, the department said a “temporary repair” made the system back up and run.
This time, it is not clear what will take for the system to fail or repair.
As before, other systems (including body cameras, 911 lines and department emails) are still running. Deputies were still able to react to the phone, although they were unable to run license plates or background checks from their patrol vehicles.
“Now, the answerer has to write down all the information for each call, and then the dispatcher has to express all the details, and the patrol has to write it all down.” “They have no ability to run people or plates. They can’t submit the report number to people , so you have to call the dispatch.”
Earlier last month, the department said it had been trying to upgrade the scheduling system for some time and had released a proposal request for a new CAD system in mid-2023. The department also said it is still evaluating options and a testing program for a potential system is about to begin.
