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Mayor Announces Reforms to Jersey City 911 System
Mayor James Solomon announced reforms to the Jersey City Communications Center, which handles emergency and non-emergency calls and dispatch operations, to address staffing, leadership, and technology gaps.
“For too long, our 911 center was asked to do a critical job without the leadership, staffing, or technology to do it well. We’re changing that,” said Mayor James Solomon. “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 with their safety.”
The reforms include assigning a City Commander to oversee operations across all shifts, returning police supervisors to the center, and appointing two dispatch administrators to manage quality improvement, training, and accountability.
A new 911 system is scheduled to launch on May 14, 2026, replacing infrastructure that is 16 years old. The system will use digital audio and location-based call routing based on verified caller location rather than cell tower proximity. It will also allow text messaging between call takers and callers, including the exchange of photos and videos, and will provide limited translation services.
Parking enforcement dispatch will be relocated to the Communications Center to route complaints directly to enforcement units.
“This is a fundamental shift in how we run our Communications Center,” said Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. “We’ve restored command-level leadership to the room, and with the new 911 system coming online in May, our dispatchers will finally have technology that matches the demands of the job.”
Council President Denise Ridley said residents have reported issues with call routing and wait times. “When someone calls 911, they’re often in the worst moment of their day, and they deserve a system that works. The reforms announced today are exactly the kind of investment our residents have been asking for,” she said.
The center handles approximately 176,000 emergency calls and nearly 216,000 non-emergency calls annually, along with close to 100,000 police incidents each year.