2016 Good Government Awards: How Robert Smuts Transformed SF's Emergency Communications

 

The 2016 Good Government Awards, held on March 21, recognized outstanding performances by managers working for the City and County of San Francisco.

Robert Smuts is the Deputy Director for Emergency Communications at the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, overseeing operations and administration for the City’s 9-1-1 Center. Besides normal operational duties of staffing, training and supervising the center, Smuts ensures that all legal regulations related to 9-1-1 services are met and stewards relationships with the emergency service providers such as the police, fire and sheriff’s departments. Smuts moved into his position just one-and-a-half years ago, and has turned around a distressed department. He established objective criteria for success, brought in expert data analysts to assess the recent 38 percent spike in call volume, and increased the chances of a 9-1-1 call being answered in 10 seconds or less from 68 percent to 80 percent of the time. He has improved relations with the emergency service providers, facilitating cooperative dispatching changes that went into effect in January 2016.​

 

 

Learn about our other 2016 winners:

How Diana Hammons Made Muni Free for Youth and Seniors

How Jane Gong Helps Small Businesses Succeed

How Greg Kato Raised $500 Million in Business Tax Revenue

How the RAD Team Helps Create Housing for Vulnerable Populations