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Response Times Lag in Areas Patrolled by L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies
Photo by denisetaylor☼ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
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Photo by denisetaylor☼ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Last year, a 911 call prompted, on average, a 4.9 minute response time from L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies. Right after the department suffered a $128 million budget cut six months ago, it rose to 5.5 minutes. And last month, response times hit nearly six minutes, according to the LA Times.The news comes in a report delivered to the L.A, County Board of Supervisors by Sheriff Lee Baca, who won't attribute just budget cuts to lagging response times. More 911 calls than usual, for example, could also be a reason.
Whatever the case may be, in responding to emergencies, seconds can count.
"It's not something to shrug off," Baca told the Times. "We have to watch it and if our response to emergencies continues extending, we could come to a tipping point. I think we're still at the front end … but we're inching up to it."
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