The
Upper Saddle
River Police
Department Communications
Center is the
nerve center for all radio, telephone, teletype and computer
communications. The
Communications Officers are the vital link between citizens and all
public safety services of the borough. All of the emergency communications for the borough’s
Police Department, Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Ambulance Corps
are handled from this location.
Communications,
also known as dispatch, is staffed by five (5) full time civilians
and six (6) part time civilians who work rotating shifts, covering
the “desk” 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The duties of our communications officers cover a wide
array of daily tasks.
Besides
handling all radio communications and answering all emergency and
non-emergency phone calls into the police department, the
communications officers are responsible to research and retrieve
information to assist officers on calls and detectives conducting
investigations. In order to
handle this task each communications officer must go through training
at the Bergen
County Police
Academy. Here they are trained in law
enforcement computer systems such as:
NCIC – National
Crime Information
Center
DMV – Division of Motor
Vehciles
CJIS – Criminal Justice
Information System
NJLETS – New
Jersey Law Enforcement Telecommunications
System
NLETS – National Law
Enforcement Telecommunications System
ATS/ACS – Automatic Traffic
System / Automatic Criminal System
MARS – Municipal Arrest
Recording System
Trak System – Otherwise
known as the Amber Alert System
The
communications center consists of two separate work stations which
are set up exactly the same.
This allows multiple communications officers to work
simultaneously from either work station. The communications officers utilize three (3) computer
screens and must monitor nine (9) separate radios. These radios allow them to
communicate not only with the emergency services of Upper
Saddle River
but also with those in surrounding towns, the County
Police as well
as with New Jersey State Police.
9-1-1 Calls
Question. When should I call 9-1-1?
Answer. For all crimes in progress,
medical emergencies, fires, serious motor vehicle accidents, or any
other incident which may involve a life threatening situation.
Question. What do I need to tell the
communications officer?
Answer. You will need to provide your
name, the phone number from which you are calling from, and the
location and nature of the emergency. Try to remain calm and speak with a clear voice while
providing this information.
Question. What should I do if I dial 9-1-1
in error?
Answer. DO NOT HANG UP! It is important for the caller to
stay on the line in the event of an error. If you accidentally dialed 9-1-1 just advise the
communications officer it was an error. Our department’s policy is to investigate all abandoned
or misdialed calls to determine whether or not an emergency may
actually exist.
Remember: 9-1-1
is for emergency use only!
All other calls for assistance or information should be made
to our standard phone number 201-327-2700
