911 calls are being answered faster in Oakland. The Police Department announced Monday that it recorded its best 911 call-answering performance in six years. Officials say 80 percent of all 911 calls were answered within 15 seconds last month. That’s up from 71 percent in August of last year and a significant improvement from the low point of just 37 percent in August 2023. Oakland has spent millions of dollars working to improve emergency response times since a 2023 investigation by NBC Bay Area found that some callers were left listening to the phone ring for as long as 15 minutes after dialing 911. City officials say the improvements reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen the emergency communications system and reduce wait times for people seeking help. The Police Department continues working to improve performance and make sure emergency calls are answered quickly. Officials say faster response times can help get police, firefighters and medical crews to people in need sooner.
