Jersey City To Replace Outdated 911 Emergency System: See When

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City's much maligned 911 emergency call system will finally get an overhaul, officials announced this week.

Over the years, residents have complained about slow response times in emergencies, and first responders failing to show up. READ MORE: Amid Some Positive Crime Trends, Jersey City Grapples With 911 Issues, Murky Statistics

The administration of Mayor James Solomon said that the current system is 16 years old, putting it around 2010.

"The new system introduces digital audio and location-based call routing, a significant improvement over the current method, which routes 911 calls based on the nearest cell tower — sometimes sending calls to the wrong municipality," the city said in a release.

"Under the new system, calls will be routed using the caller's verified location, ensuring that emergencies originating in Jersey City reach the Jersey City Communications Center."

Other changes will address long-standing gaps in staffing and leadership, officials said.

Solomon said, "These reforms put experienced commanders back in the room, give our dispatchers the tools they deserve, and ensure that when a Jersey City resident calls 911, that call reaches us quickly, accurately, and with every resource we can bring to bear. This is about building a system our residents can trust."

The Jersey City Communications Center currently handles approximately 176,000 emergency calls and nearly 216,000 non-emergency calls annually, the city said, while managing close to 100,000 police incidents per year. The center operates with eight call-taking positions, six fire dispatcher positions, nine police dispatcher positions, and a supervisor.

Read prior reporting: READ MORE: Amid Some Positive Crime Trends, Jersey City Grapples With 911 Issues, Murky Statistics