Kansas City Residents Face Alarming 911 Hold Times Amid Safety Concerns

Kansas City Faces Long 911 Hold Times

Kansas City residents are facing a troubling reality: when they need emergency help and call 911, they might find themselves placed on hold. Yes, you read that right! With newly released data showing that the average hold time is a surprising 53 seconds, this situation is raising eyebrows and concerns across the community.

Understanding the Numbers

To break it down, while 53 seconds might not sound catastrophic, it’s actually outside the nationwide standards for response times. In fact, some days are even worse. September was particularly challenging, with one day recording an average wait time of a staggering 1 minute and 31 seconds, and nine days overall exceeding a one-minute wait. Just imagine being a parent trying to reach help while dealing with a medical emergency or experiencing a crisis!

The Human Impact

Mayor Quinton Lucas has labeled this issue as a “crisis,” sharing some heart-wrenching stories from families who have found themselves in terrifying situations. One family attempted to call 911 three separate times during a home delivery emergency and was met with hold music each time. Unfortunately, they weren’t alone. Mayor Lucas opened up about his own experience when his mother suffered a medical emergency and he faced a long hold time while seeking help.

To bolster the argument, Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw shared how these abysmal hold times have affected her family personally as well. Hearing from city officials underscores that this issue isn’t just about numbers; it’s impacting actual lives.

What’s Being Done?

Amid this rising concern, there is a silver lining; a new plan aims to unite the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) and the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) 911 services under one roof. The hope is that by streamlining communication, the delays will diminish over time. This plan was approved on September 26, and now City Manager Brian Platt will present the plan to the Police Board of Commissioners. He is expected to report back to the mayor and city council within 45 days.

Making a Tough Decision

If you ask anyone who has had to call 911 and found themselves in a holding pattern, they’ll tell you that it’s a tough spot. The recorded message you hear typically advises you to stay on the line and that your call will be answered by the next available operator. The frustrating thing is that if you hang up and call again, you’re not doing yourself any favors – you’re just getting pushed to the back of the queue!

Heartbreaking stories are emerging from families who have felt they had no other choice but to abandon their 911 calls altogether. Some even resorted to running to the nearest firehouse or driving their children, who are experiencing medical emergencies, directly to the hospital. This shouldn’t be the way it has to be.

A Need for More Help

Statistics from the Kansas City Police Department indicate that there are currently 25 open positions out of a total of 95, with only 13 individuals going through training. The situation calls for more assistance. According to police spokesperson Sgt. Phil DiMartino, “We are always looking for those who want to serve their city. It is a challenging yet rewarding career opportunity, where you are truly the first responders anytime a citizen calls 911.” As an enticing incentive, there is also a $2,500 hiring bonus on offer for all professional staff positions.

Conclusion

As Kansas City grapples with these pressing 911 response times and the many personal stories behind them, the community hopes for positive changes that will ensure help is just a call away – without the hassle of being put on hold. Having effective emergency services is not just a city issue; it’s a matter of safety and peace of mind for every resident.