SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Calling 911 is a lesson we teach kids as the fastest way to get help in an emergency. In Spokane County, 911 calls go to Spokane Regional Emergency Communications where operators take both emergency and non-emergency Crime Check calls. If you’ve ever made one of these calls, you’re familiar with wait times.
According to SREC, this year in Spokane County, average 911 wait times were between 9 and 14 seconds. When calling Crime Check, wait times were between 13 and 25 seconds.
4 News Now received questions about why 911 wait times have taken longer than that in an emergency and why callers have been told to dial 911 again if the situation became more threatening.
Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley brought up the same concerns at a City Council meeting on July 23 during a presentation by SREC.
According to Mayor Haley, Spokane Valley residents have repeatedly expressed frustrations with SREC, saying they have been put on hold, disconnected, or asked to call back.