LA County 911 System Down, Calls Rerouted to Sheriff's Stations

Outage disrupts emergency response services across the county

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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An outage has disrupted the 911 system throughout the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's jurisdiction. Deputies said 911 calls have been redirected to local patrol stations' business lines to limit the impact on emergency response. The Sheriff's Department said its system went down at about 6:02 p.m. and its electricians and crews from its telecommunications provider are working to restore full service as quickly as possible.

Why it matters

This 911 system outage could significantly impact emergency response times and public safety across Los Angeles County, which has a population of over 10 million people. The Sheriff's Department has struggled with outdated technology for its dispatch and emergency response systems in recent years, highlighting the need for critical infrastructure upgrades.

The details

Deputies said 911 calls are being redirected to local patrol stations' business lines to maintain emergency response services while the issue is being resolved. The Sheriff's Department said its system went down around 6:02 p.m. and its crews are working to restore full service. This is not the first time the department has faced technology issues, as it experienced problems with its dispatch system last year that forced 911 operators to relay information manually.

  • The 911 system outage began around 6:02 p.m. on February 20, 2026.

The players

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

The law enforcement agency responsible for providing police services to unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and 42 of the county's 88 incorporated cities.

Robert Luna

The Sheriff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who has stressed the need to upgrade the department's decades-old emergency response technology.

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What they’re saying

“We appreciate the community's understanding and want to reassure our residents that we are taking all necessary steps to maintain emergency response services while this issue is being resolved.”

— Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Sheriff's Department said its electricians and crews from its telecommunications provider are working to restore full 911 service as quickly as possible.

The takeaway

This 911 outage highlights the critical need for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to upgrade its aging emergency response technology infrastructure to ensure reliable and efficient public safety services for the millions of residents across the county.