Ethical Hacking News
In a bizarre incident reminiscent of the feared Y2K bug, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is struggling with an IT issue that has left its computer dispatch system down for over 24 hours after New Year's Eve. The LASD's computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) failed to function properly due to a technical glitch that occurred just before midnight on Tuesday. As officials investigate the cause of the crash, it remains unclear when the system will come back online.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is struggling with an IT issue that has left its computer dispatch system down for over 24 hours. The crash was caused by a technical glitch that prevented personnel from logging on after the new year, making the CAD inoperable. The LASD's computer-aided dispatch system failure has caused significant disruptions to the department's operations and response times. Law enforcement agencies are facing increasing technical challenges due to cyberattacks and the need for modernized IT systems.
LA, CA - In a bizarre incident reminiscent of the feared Y2K bug that was supposed to wreak havoc on computer systems in 2000, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) is struggling with an IT issue that has left its computer dispatch system down for over 24 hours after New Year's Eve. The LASD's computer-aided dispatch system (CAD), which is used by law enforcement personnel to field 911 calls and respond to emergencies, failed to function properly due to a technical glitch that occurred just before midnight on Tuesday.
According to the Los Angeles Times, an anonymous sheriff’s deputy quoted in the article stated that the crash was caused by the system not allowing personnel to log on with the new year, making the CAD inoperable. The deputy also provided more details about the trouble the department was having as a result of the crash: "Now, the call takers have to write down all the information for each call and then the dispatch has to voice all the details and the patrol unit has to write it all down," they said. "They don't have the ability to run people or plates. They can't pull report numbers to give to people, so they have to call dispatch."
The LASD's computer dispatch system is a crucial tool for law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County, as it enables them to quickly and efficiently respond to emergency calls. When the system went down, it caused significant disruptions to the department's operations, including problems with responding to 911 calls related to the county's New Year's celebrations.
It appears that the LASD has been experiencing issues with its IT systems in recent months, as they have been targeted by numerous cyberattacks, including a debilitating ransomware attack that struck the county’s Superior Court last summer. The department has acknowledged these issues and has stated that it is working to improve and upgrade its internal systems.
The LASD's IT issue is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger trend of law enforcement agencies facing technical challenges in recent years. Many police departments have reported problems with their computer-aided dispatch systems, including slow response times and failed communication between dispatchers and officers in the field.
In light of this incident, it is clear that law enforcement agencies must prioritize the security and reliability of their IT systems to ensure public safety. The LASD's experience serves as a reminder of the importance of investing in modernized and centralized CAD systems that can handle the demands of 21st-century policing.
The LASD has stated that they are working closely with other county agencies and vendors to find both temporary and long-term solutions to resolve this technical issue. However, it remains unclear when the system will come back online, and officials have been tight-lipped about the cause of the crash.
As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues, one thing is clear: the LASD's IT issue has highlighted the need for law enforcement agencies to prioritize their digital infrastructure and invest in cutting-edge technology that can keep pace with emerging threats and demands.
Related Information:
https://gizmodo.com/our-own-little-y2k-la-sheriffs-dispatch-system-down-after-new-years-day-computer-crash-2000544840
https://www.yahoo.com/news/own-little-y2k-l-sheriffs-204831111.html
Published: Thu Jan 2 14:03:41 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
