GPS Locator

[ronmicha]

I heard a call this morning that has me excited if I'm guessing right. Do MPD dispatchers have GPS capabilities to show where a caller is located? The call I heard this morning was that a woman was screaming for help and was at a certain latitute and longitute. The dispatcher said that location showed to be near Judy Lynn and Perkins Rd. I know the enhanced 911 can show where a phone and house is located but the call this morning made it sound like it was a cell phone and gave the dispatcher an immediate location of the caller. If I got this right that sure is going to help make a huge dent in crime solving. I hadn't heard of this before and if anyone else has info on it, I'd like to know more.
Thanks.
Ron

 

[ke4ppj]

I've heard them say and use that several times. They'll say the person was on a cell phone and the closest location was XXX and XXX.
You're right....it's pretty cool and helpful I'm sure.
Matthew might could tell us more and how dispatchers get that info.

 

[dsbyrd]

I heard a call this morning that has me excited if I'm guessing right. Do MPD dispatchers have GPS capabilities to show where a caller is located?

Not all cell phones have GPS capability. Probably most don't at this stage.

I found an article from 1998 that describes FCC plans with regard to cell phones and 911. According to the article, in initial phases 911 operators would get the location of the cell tower. By 2001 they were scheduled to have enhanced 911 services that would show the location of the phone with 125 meters, by triangulating the signal from various cell sites in the vicinity.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,9502,00.html

Don't know how accurate this is eight years later, but I found it interesting.