Berkeley's struggling 911 dispatch center gets $1M boost
The state funding will pay for technology upgrades, expanded facilities and a new wellness space for dispatchers.
By Vicente Vera
Berkeley's long-struggling 911 dispatch center is getting $1 million in state funding to modernize operations and improve emergency response.
The city's dispatch center handles more than 180,000 calls each year for fire, police and emergency medical services.
Last week, state Sen. Jesse Arreguín announced that he had secured the $1 million grant to help address longstanding challenges at the communications center.
He presented Berkeley officials with a ceremonial check at an Oct. 15 news conference.
"As the former mayor of Berkeley, I know how critical a modern, reliable dispatch center is to keeping our communities safe and ensuring first responders can act quickly when people need help," he said.
A 2019 Berkeley city auditor report found that chronic understaffing and mandatory overtime had contributed to low morale at the city's emergency communications center, where 911 calls were taking longer to answer.
Voters approved Measure FF the next year, a parcel tax to fund firefighting, emergency response and 911 upgrades.
Despite efforts to address the audit's findings, staffing shortages remained a problem in 2025, according to BPD's most recent annual report.
At last week's press event, Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii said she was thankful for the extra state support in addition to what voters approved under Measure FF.
"When someone in Berkeley dials 911, the person who answers is their lifeline," she said.
The grant will expand the Communications Center, upgrade software and technology to improve response times, and add a wellness space to support dispatchers, who frequently navigate high-impact 911 calls.
Those changes will help address persistent concerns about dispatcher morale and retention, said Erin Netz, who recently returned to the Berkeley Police Department to lead its Emergency Communications Center.
"As a former dispatcher, I know that addressing morale in a high-stress environment is important in retaining qualified dispatchers," she said. "This funding will help us achieve our goal of improving the wellness of our dispatchers, creating better outcomes for all."
Earlier this year, the city also signed a separate $1.7 million contract to modernize its communications center with the help of priority dispatch software.
Vicente Vera is a freelance reporter based in the Bay Area who graduated from the San Jose State University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He covers politics, community and culture.
