The Toms River Township Police Department Communications Unit is staffed with fifteen full time civilian police dispatchers. Additionally, various part-time and fire dispatchers work out of the Communications Center. Communications Dispatchers perform a full range of radio and telephone operational duties in this 24-hour facility. Dispatchers are required to process and prioritize incoming calls for police, fire and EMS assistance.
The dispatchers keep in constant radio contact with officers in the field, directing and supporting calls for service. The Toms River Police Department utilizes a computer-aided dispatch system manufactured by Spillman Technologies Inc.
The Spillman Dispatch System is used to process emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, medical or other emergency services. Dispatchers determine the nature and location of the emergency; determine priorities, and dispatch police, fire, ambulance or other emergency units as necessary.
The dispatchers also receive and process 911 emergency calls, maintain contact with all units on assignment, maintain status and location of police and fire units, monitor direct emergency alarms, and answer non-emergency calls for assistance. Their responsibilities further include having to update and retrieve information from a variety of computer systems, process requests for information regarding vehicle registration, driving records and warrants, as well as provide pertinent data and information to field officers.
Police dispatchers monitor several complex public safety radio frequencies and systems, likewise operating a variety of communications equipment, including radio consoles, telephones and computer systems. All of the Toms River Police Communications Dispatchers receive extensive training in various aspects of emergency dispatching, telecommunications, first aid and CPR.
The Communications Division is part of the Community Affairs Division and is supervised by Lieutenant Gene Bachonski gbachonski@trpolice.org