The 9-1-1 system dates back several decades.  As early as 1937, governments of various countries in Europe, and of course here in the United States, had ideas of implementing one single phone number that would link a citizen to emergency services.  By 1968, the federal government and AT&T had announced that the digits: 9-1-1 would be reserved for the future use of a nationwide emergency communication system. 

By 1976, Atlantic City had the honor of claiming the first 9-1-1 system in the state of New Jersey.  In 1986, Govenor Kean had passed legislation requiring every county and municipality in the state to join the national 9-1-1 initiative.  On January 12, 1995, Bergen County implemented its Enhanced 9-1-1 System that serves all 72 towns in the county.  As a part of the Enhanced 9-1-1 System, every Bergen County phone number had been mapped to its geographic location so that everytime 9-1-1 is dialed, the police call-taker can see the caller's address on a computer without even having to speak to the caller.  

When a resident of Hillsdale dials 9-1-1, the call is immediately routed to Paramus Police Headquarters Regional 9-1-1 Center.  Parmaus 9-1-1 call-takers are certified police telecommunicators who are specially trained to answer 9-1-1 calls.  The Paramus Police Department serves more than a dozen towns in the surrounding area, including Hillsdale.  Police, Fire, and Medical units are then dispatched to the emergency based upon the nature of the call.  For that reason, it is important for citizens to remember the following when dialing 9-1-1 :

• 9-1-1 is a free call from any phone (residential, commercial, cellular, etc)
• Tell the call-taker the exact nature of your emergency as soon as your 9-1-1 call is answered
• Provide/confirm your location for the call-taker 
• 9-1-1 is designed for emergencies only; emergencies include
  • car accidents where people are injured
  • medical assitance (heartattacks, strokes, serious injuries, etc)
  • a crime in progress (burglaries, robberies, assaults, etc)
  • any violent incident
  • or any time life or property is in danger
• Give the call-taker specific information (i.e., description of suspect; extent of injuries, etc)
• STAY ON THE LINE with the call-taker until you are told to hang up

When something requires police attention, but is not an emergency, then citizens should dial the non-emergency number.  The Hillsdale Police Department is a twenty-four hour operation, and police officers or civilian dispatchers are standing-by to answer questions, refer assitance, or handle administrative requests at (201)664-4200. 

• If 9-1-1 is dialed by mistake, STAY ON THE LINE, and explain to the call-taker that 9-1-1 was dialed in error.  A police officer may still respond to your location to verify that there is indeed no emergency. 
• If 9-1-1 is dailed and abandoned, or the caller is unable to speak, an officer will still respond to the location of the call. 
• If 9-1-1 is dialed as a prank, criminal charges can be filed against the offender(s)

For more information about non-emergency requests, visit Non-Emergency Requests for the Police

To learn about reporting a crime to police, visit How to Report a Crime