09/17/2026
When an emergency is unfolding, response time matters.
But should we be thinking about response time only from dispatch to arrival?
Recent research suggests the answer may be no.
A 2023 study published in The Economic Journal found that, for violent disturbances in progress, longer police response times were associated with higher injury rates. The researchers also found similar effects for robberies, burglaries, and thefts that were still underway.
Another peer-reviewed study, published in The Review of Economic Studies, found that slower police response was associated with lower crime-clearance rates, while faster arrival increased the likelihood of immediate arrest and suspect identification.
The takeaway for public safety is important:
The emergency is already unfolding before dispatch is complete.
That creates an opportunity to think beyond traditional response-time metrics and consider another critical measure: time to first-responder awareness.
Live911 helps move that awareness earlier by allowing authorized first responders to hear 911 calls and see caller location information as the call unfolds.
The research cited reinforces an important principle: for time-critical, in-progress incidents, earlier awareness and earlier arrival can matter.
The question for agencies may no longer be just:
“How quickly did we arrive?”
It may also be:
“How quickly did our responders know?”
Sources:
DeAngelo, Toger & Weisburd, The Economic Journal (2023), “Police Response Time and Injury Outcomes.”
Blanes i Vidal & Kirchmaier, The Review of Economic Studies (2018), research on police response time and crime clearance.
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