Non-emergency calls clog 911 system in Ridgewood and beyond
Tuesday July 23, 2013, 9:52 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
Some people call 911 after locking their keys in their car. Others have called when a neighbor played loud music. One time, a woman dialed 911 because a deer was eating her flowers – and then became argumentative when the dispatcher noted that it wasn’t a 911 emergency.
According to the director of Ridgewood’s local emergency dispatch service, dispatchers receive “an overwhelming majority” of 911 calls each year about non-emergency situations like these. This can be dangerous – especially during large-scale emergencies like severe storms, when dispatchers are forced to sift through these calls at the expense of real emergencies.
This summer, residents with heat concerns might also want to pause and consider the difference between 911 medical emergencies and less serious inquiries that would be better directed elsewhere.
“We do get inundated, almost to the point that it’s crippling, with calls that aren’t emergencies,” said Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch (NWBCD) Director Jack Tancos. “One of the things that frustrates me in my position is that the state really doesn’t do a [best-use awareness] campaign. … There’s a pretty serious misconception among the general population.”
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/216580751_Non-emergency_calls_clog_911_system_in_Ridgewood_and_beyond.html#sthash.mdfXNsDY.dpuf
This has been going on far too long. The village of rwd went to 911 in 1995, so the residents should have figured it out by now. The best course of action is if the resident calls up with something stupid have the dispatcher hang up! The callers will eventually get the message
Everything is and emergency in Ridgewood
Happens every where, some people are just plain stupid.
What’s truly pathetic about this article is the source for information. Maybe if Fuhrer Tancos wasn’t running a third-rate circus understaffed with half-wits, nuisance calls wouldn’t be so “crippling”. What a buffoon. How nice of him to do his usual passing of the buck by blaming the State for not running an effective public information campaign. It’s called social media and local resources, Jack. Too bad everyone reputable or competent in that clown show has bailed out because of your atrocious management skills. Know what’s a pretty serious misconception? The idea that residents can call 9-1-1 and speak to a competent operator in a properly staffed and managed center. Another misconception, propagated by Tancos is that the center is staffed by 4 or 5 operators. How many have quit in recent weeks Jack? Is it up to 9 now? What’s the overnight staffing? The taxpayers deserve better value for their money. The towns paying for this failure should demand a refund and find an alternate provider.
Actually, there are some very talented dispatcher’s that work at central. It is a huge issue of residents and non residents calling 911 for everything ! I mean everything, such as there is a deer walking in my backyard, can you tell me why there is so much traffic on 17 , can you give me directions to the movie theater in ridgewood, ect …..these are not life threatening issues, I agree the state does not do a good job as far as keeping people aware of what 911 is really for. I think everyone should be charged a fee every time they call 911 for these stupid issues. The best is when you pick up and they first say this isn’t an emergency so they know they shouldn’t be calling its just them being lazy !
Make it easier to call the police directly. No menu of buttons to push. Just a simple number to a live officer.
#6 You can dial direct to the police desk by call 670-5519, or 251-4538, no voice mail both numbers ring thru to the police desk.
#5, your post was great for a laugh, thank you. There is little if ANY talent left at that clown show. The only one with it works 1 day a week at best, most likely to avoid being further associated with Bozo Tancos and his dimwitted minions. Again, you echo his idiotic buck passing by saying it’s the job of the state to educate the public on proper use of the 9-1-1 system. What’s more tragic, is that the level of incompetence has risen to a point that even when a caller CORRECTLY uses the 9-1-1 system, it’s a gamble whether or not they will reach someone who knows how to do their job properly. The only things coming out of NWBCD with any consistency are lies and excuses for poor performance.