Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBrittney DonovanFriday 24 July 2026 19:21 BSTTrump announces date for visit from China's Xi to talk AI: 'Biggest thing anybody's ever seen'The La Mesa Police Department in Southern California is now using an artificial intelligence-powered voice assistant on its non-emergency telephone line.Developed by Hyper, the technology is available by calling the department's non-emergency number at 619-667-1400. The AI tool aims to reduce wait times and connect callers to the right resources faster, while all 911 calls will continue to be answered by trained dispatchers, the police department said.The system supports multiple languages and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls handled by the AI assistant are recorded and transcribed for quality assurance and operational review. The department said it will monitor system performance and adjust as needed to ensure reliable service and the highest level of customer service.Police Chief Ray Sweeney said the technology reflects the department's commitment to embracing innovative solutions that improve service without compromising public safety.“Our mission is to ensure that every member of our community can quickly access the help they need," Sweeney said. “Every 911 call will continue to be answered by a trained dispatcher. By using this technology for routine, non-emergency calls, we're able to eliminate unnecessary wait times, improve customer service and allow our dispatchers to focus their full attention on emergencies and calls that require immediate human intervention."More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in