Action 7 News exposed the problem earlier this week, and it extends beyond Bernalillo County.

There’s a company that’s hired to translate 911 calls. The dispatcher transfers the caller to that company and then sends out emergency help.

Action 7 News confirmed that vendor is used at dispatch centers statewide and it hasn’t been getting the job done, so the state is looking for a replacement.

“It could literally cost somebody their life,” Bernalillo County Commissioner Wayne Johnson said. “Absolutely it’s disappointing. In a perfect world this never happens.”

A woman who’d been shot in the head was rushed into El Paisa Taqueria on Bridge Boulevard. A worker who only spoke Spanish immediately called 911 for help.

But he hit a major road block and in nearly 10 minutes there were no translators. So the emergency was simply lost in translation. He says the 911 operator only told her “No Spanish” and that’s it. More.

See: KOAT Albuquerque

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