Original Source

Anoka County in Minnesota is testing a $60,000 artificial intelligence (AI) program to screen non-emergency 911 calls. The goal is to expedite urgent call handling and reduce response times.

Anoka County Implements AI for Non-Emergency Call Screening

Anoka County is currently piloting a $60,000 artificial intelligence (AI) program designed to screen non-emergency calls. Samantha Gust, a 911 call-taker for the county, notes that two-thirds of the up to 150 calls she handles during her 12-hour shift are non-emergencies. These calls include complaints about noise, barking dogs, and fireworks. The county reports receiving an average of 733 such non-emergency calls daily.

Aim to Enhance Emergency Call Response Efficiency

Kari Morrissey, director of Anoka County Emergency Communications, explained that utilizing AI to screen non-emergency calls will enable swifter responses to urgent 911 calls and reduce hold times. The primary objective of this program is to free up call-takers to focus on life-threatening emergencies, thereby enhancing overall response efficiency.

*Source: 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS (2026-05-02)*

Related Articles

📧 Daily Newsletter

Get the daily global news briefing in your inbox every morning.

Subscribe

It's still free.