SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Regional Emergency Communications will test a new artificial intelligence system Wednesday to automatically handle non-emergency calls and preserve 911 lines for emergencies, according to a news release.
The AI system will field Crime Check calls during a two-hour test from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, freeing up communications officers for urgent situations, SREC announced.
Crime Check receives more than 250,000 calls annually, officials said. About 54% require immediate dispatch, while 28% need redirection to other agencies.
“By integrating automated triage into the Crime Check line, we’re ensuring that callers get routed to the right resources quickly while preserving our 911 lines for life-threatening emergencies,” said Kim Arredondo, SREC’s deputy director.
The AI will engage callers in conversation to identify their needs, according to the release. It can determine whether situations like abandoned vehicles or traffic violations require emergency response and transfer true emergencies to communications officers immediately.
SREC will analyze test results before launching the full service by the end of 2025, officials said. The system will operate in English and Spanish.
Community members should continue dialing 911 for emergencies, the agency said.
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