The Warren County 9-1-1 Communications Center provides emergency and non-emergency call taking and dispatch services for all the police, fire, and EMS emergency services agencies in Warren County. The Communications Center was established in November 1994 by the County Communications Committee made up of various Police, Fire and EMS Officers throughout Warren County. The Communications Center is staffed with over 40 Public Safety Telecommunicators (PST’s). All our PST’s receive extensive training to earn and maintain their 9-1-1 Officer and Emergency Medical Dispatcher certifications.

The Warren County 9-1-1 Communications Center handles emergency and non-emergency calls for 10 Municipal Police Departments, 22 Fire Departments, 13 Emergency Medical Services. There are 2 New Jersey State Police Stations covering municipalities that do not have their own departments. Other agencies dispatched are the Prosecutor's Office, Sheriff's Office Correctional Department.

Enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency Call Taking
When someone in Warren County dials 9-1-1 from a wired device, the name, telephone number, and address is displayed on an ANI/ALI screen for the call-taker. Also displayed on this screen is the police, fire, and Emergency Medical (ambulance) agency that serves that address. The call-taker will answer the phone by saying "9-1-1, Where is your emergency". The PST will also request your name and verify your address and telephone number. Remember, 9-1-1 is for emergency situations only - those that represent an immediate threat to life or property, such as a crime in progress, a fire, or a medical emergency. Do not call 9-1-1 for non-emergency requests, such as weather conditions, requesting directions to a location, or general information.

9-1-1 Calls via Cell Phone

Currently over 85% of all 9-1-1 calls come in via a cell phone. While the use of cell phones is more convenient, the lack of a displayed address makes locating callers very difficult. Far too often callers are not able to provide a physical address or simply know where they are. While there is technology out there that does allow us to locate / ping your phone, your location (inside a building or terrain) at the time determines how successful locating you will be. Make it a habit of always knowing where you are, don’t rely on on-line services as sometimes roadways are miss labeled. If your phone accidently calls 9-1-1, stay on the phone. Often the Telecommunicator will spend several minutes attempting to locate a 9-1-1 hang up because they heard screaming in the background. Turns out the caller is at a sporting event or children are playing. We ask that you stay on the line and verify the information. We will ask you to verify name, address and current location and confirm there is no emergency condition.

TEXT to 9-1-1

Call if you can, Text if you can’t.  Warren County Telecommunicators are trained in receiving 9-1-1 calls via text. The process is much slower than traditional methods, as such we request you always call when possible. Always begin with your exact location and wait for the PST to tell you they are ending the conversation before you disconnect.

Non-Emergency Call-Taking
The police departments in Warren County maintain 10-digit non-emergency numbers for routine requests and information. These non-emergency lines are routed to the Communications Center. Pending upon the information requested the PST may provide you with a number directly into the station or other municipal service or take your information and have an officer contact you.  These types of calls include requesting an accident report, reporting incidents in the past,  directions to the police station, and other general non-emergency requests.

Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Dispatching
Our PST’s are in constant radio contact with police officers on the road or at headquarters. Warren County's Fire and EMS agencies are made up of both career and volunteer members. They are dispatched via electronic pagers from the center. Radio towers are located in Harmony, Mansfield, and Blairstown to provide radio coverage to these agencies.

Computer-Aided Dispatching (CAD)
Computer technology is used heavily in our state of the art communications center. A computer software program is used to record requests for services and the response of emergency units. The program also provides addressing and cross street information and can be used to flag special information at any address, such as special hazards, individuals needing special needs, special directions to a location, and which emergency services agencies cover that location. The software is supplied by a company named Queues-Enforth Development.

Mobile Data Terminal Services
Several police officers in the county now make use of laptop computers which are used directly in the vehicles. These are known as "MDTs", or Mobile Data Terminals. They allow the officers to communicate from car to car, run motor vehicle and driver's license queries, and checks for stolen or wanted vehicles or persons.

National Weather Alert System (NAWAS)
The center maintains dedicated national and statewide telephone links to the National Weather Service for immediate notification of severe weather conditions. This helps us get the "jump" on conditions that may jeopardize the well-being of our county residents, such as tornados, electrical storms, hazardous snow conditions, high winds, etc.

DAM Safety Hotlines
Dedicated emergency telephone links are maintained to the Merrill Creek Reservoir in Harmony Township and the Yards Creek Reservoir in Blairstown. This systems will provide us advanced notification in the event of a dam warning, alert, or safety condition.

Recording Systems
All emergency and non-emergency telephones and all primary dispatch radio channels are recorded. Recordings are kept for a period of 31 days. Call-takers are also able to immediately play back any telephone conversations they have had to clarify information provided by a caller.

Backup Electrical Power Systems
The communications center building and all remote tower sites have adequate backup emergency electrical power generators in case commercial power is lost or interrupted. This is a somewhat frequent occurrence during storms or motor vehicle accidents which damage power lines.