The Irvington Police Department will receive two grants totaling $269,480 from the NJ 9-1-1 Commission to upgrade aging communications equipment.

 

An Enhanced 9-1-1 Equipment Grant of $219,000 will fund the acquisition of 4 new 9-1-1 answering stations for the communications room. Currently, the system, known as ANI/ALI (automated number identifier/automated location identifier) recognizes the number from a landline phone, the person to whom the phone is registered and the location. Cell phone information, however, has a major restriction. While it displays “cell phone” on the screen and identifies the number, the system doesn’t register the location of the caller.

 

The new equipment is compatible with a computer program that reveals latitudinal and longitudinal points to within 100’ of a cell phone location, according to Police Director Michael Damiano.

 

“We will receive technologically sophisticated equipment to help preserve life and property, all at no cost to the taxpayer; this is truly the best of both worlds,” Mayor Wayne Smith said.

 

A new digital voice recorder, which tapes telephone and police radio transmissions, and that will be more reliable and less expensive to operate than the existing one, will be purchased with a $50,480 Enhanced 9-1-1 General Assistance Grant. The DVR is located in a separate, secure room that is not accessible to communication room personnel. They can, however, remotely access the recorded phone calls up to 12 hours after intake for playbacks only.

 

Acquisition and installation of all equipment is expected to be complete by summer 2007.

 

The communications room is staffed 24/7 with 2 call takers and 1 dispatcher. The Irvington Police Department receives approximately 100,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually from landlines and an estimated additional 15,000 from cell phones.

 

 

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