Halton Regional Police Uses AI in Hiring, Training 911 Call Takers
The system has handled 95,367 calls this year and cut candidate evaluation time by 50 per cent, police said.
- On Oct. 9, 2026, the Halton Regional Police Service became the first force in Canada to implement artificial intelligence for 911 dispatcher hiring and training, using technology to streamline recruitment and create realistic simulations.
- Brian Dodd, HRPS 911 communications bureau manager, told CityNews the force faces high application volumes, with 1,400 candidates applying for a recent communicator position, necessitating AI assistance.
- American firm GovWorx provides the simulation software, allowing trainees to practice in environments featuring realistic sounds like explosions, letting operators hone skills before managing real-life emergency calls.
- Separately, HRPS uses SARA to process non-emergency calls, freeing up dispatchers for urgent situations; so far this year, SARA has answered 95,367 calls and sent more than 2,470 text messages.
- According to HRPS, these AI technologies reduce candidate evaluation time by 50 per cent, helping ensure dispatchers remain available to answer critical 911 emergency calls.
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Halton police embrace AI in hiring, training 911 call takers
While fears over unchecked artificial intelligence (AI) make headlines, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is embracing the technology as an important tool in the hiring and training of 911 dispatchers. HRPS says it’s the first police force in Canada to implement AI in such a fashion — using technology from American firm GovWorx to […]
Halton police in Ontario uses AI in hiring, training 911 call takers – 105.9 The Region
Halton regional police in Ontario say they are using artificial intelligence in the recruitment and training of 911 call takers and dispatchers. They say American AI firm GovWorx provides the technology to create emergency call simulations to help 911 applicants improve their decision-making, communication and crisis management skills. Halton police say the use of AI in the hiring of 911 communicators reduces candidate evaluation time by 50 per …
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