Asbury Park Police Department To Have Its Own 911 Service
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
All Asbury Park emergency services will eventually be serviced by the city’s own 911 center following City Council approval recently of the purchase of the necessary equipment.
Currently the city’s emergency calls are sent through the county system before being dispatched back to Asbury Park.
In about a year, said city Finance Officer Rick Diaz, the system should be fully operational in the city.
The Motorola Equipment, which will be purchased by state contract, will include four consoles and will be installed in the second floor squad room of the police department.
Sgt. Michael Jacobs of the Asbury Park Police Department made a presentation at the council meeting detailing the equipment needed to make the change.
Emergency calls currently go to a county operator for dispatch. Implementing a local system could save as much as $70,000 per year said City Manager Terence Reidy.
The cost of the equipment is about $605,000, but with the yearly savings of $70,000 the system would pay for itself over time.
“Every time a call comes in the city is charged,” said Reidy. If 10 calls come in, we are charged for 10 calls.”
The system would also provide reverse 911 service allowing the police department to contact citizens by phone in the event of an emergency.
Reidy said the city has a good relationship with the county and are not making the change because of problems with the current system.
“We have a good relationship with the county, but it has its limitations, they don’t know the city. This is not a knock on the county,” he said.
Money for the system was included in a $750,000 bond ordinance approved several months ago.
Bids for the installation of the electrical system needed for the equipment will go out in the next few weeks. Diaz says he expects the entire system to be in place by the end of this year, but the city will not begin using the system for about a year.
“It’s long term, we’ll take a test run, it’ll take about a year,” he said.
Although the system is being installed on the second floor of the police department, a reception area will be maintained on the first floor to greet visitors, said Jacobs.
The new system will receive all emergency service calls to the police, fire, first aid and public maintenance departments.
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