Jersey City, N.J., is planning a May 14 launch for the city’s upgraded 911 system.
According to Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, the 911 system improvements are anchored by new technology and leadership structures for the Jersey City Communications Center that handles 911 emergency calls, non-emergency calls, and police and fire dispatch operations.
The 911 center now handles 176,000 emergency calls and almost 216,000 non-emergency calls per year, while managing close to 10,00 police incidents.
On the technology front, the 911 center overhaul is introducing digital audio and location-based call routing – and replacing some infrastructure that is up to 16 years old.
New functionality that will come from the tech upgrade includes providing the ability for 911 call takers to exchange text messages with callers and receive photos and videos of incidents to better inform responders before they arrive on the scene.
The text messaging capability also provides limited translation services, expanding access for non-English-speaking residents and visitors, the mayor’s office said.
On an organizational basis, the mayor’s office said, parking enforcement dispatch will be moved over to the Communications Center, allowing parking complaints to be routed directly to an enforcement unit rather than waiting for an available police officer.
In addition, the 911 overhaul will place a city commander at the Communications Center to coordinate police operations citywide.
“For too long, our 911 center was asked to do a critical job without the leadership, staffing, or technology to do it well,” said the mayor, who emphasized, “We’re changing that.”
Mayor Solomon said the city “is actively evaluating additional upgrades, including enhanced dispatch technology, expanded options for residents to file reports and access services remotely, and new response models that pair traditional police and fire resources with specialized support for mental health emergencies.”
