Union County Regional Communications

Stay Strong, Stay Safe, Stay Home

About

Union County operates a state-of-the-art communications center that opened in October of 2012.   We dispatch the Union County Police Department and many local and regional public safety agencies including Police, Fire, EMS, the Metro Strike Team and Union County Fire Mutual Aid. In addition, Union County Communications is the contact point for many specialized resources such as Sheriff’s K-9, Union County Bomb Squad and the Union County Hazardous Materials Unit (HazMat).

Interested in working with us?

Union County Communications is always looking for dedicated, customer service-oriented individuals who are ready to take on new challenges.  Our training program requires no previous public safety experience.

Public Safety Telecommunicator (Emergency Call Taker/Dispatcher)

This position is assigned to the Regional Communications Center which is located in Westfield, New Jersey. The Communications Specialist is responsible for delivering quality emergency communication services to the public, as well as providing accurate and timely dispatch support to police, Fire and EMS personnel. The Communications Specialist has a unique responsibility in a fast-paced environment that requires careful attention to detail, multi-tasking, and good communications skills. Major duties include answering 9-1-1 emergency calls, and dispatching police officers and fire rescue personnel to respond to calls, using a computer system known as (CAD) Computer Aided Dispatch.

Union County offers a competitive salary and benefits package

• Paid training
• Bonus pay for trainers
• Medical/ Dental/ Vision/ Life Insurance/ Prescription Drug Plans
• State Pension System and Deferred Compensation Plans
• Paid Holidays, Accrued Sick & Vacation, uniforms furnished
• Promotional opportunities
• Employee assistance programs

Applicants must have the ability to

Perform work assignments at different work locations when required; – work holidays, weekends and shifts during days, evenings or midnight’s; – accept last minute changes in their schedule and work mandatory overtime; – work under close supervision, and daily evaluation of performance, especially during training; – demonstrate good customer service skills including dealing calmly and respectfully with irate and angry customers over the phone; and – work under constant electronic surveillance as all telephone conversations and radio messages are recorded.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma, CPR certification, Basic Telecommunicator Certification from a New Jersey recognized training program.

Testing Process

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be scheduled for the computerized examination. All who pass the computerized examination will be scheduled for a selection interview. 

Selection Process

Applicants must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation, medical examination and drug/alcohol screen. Additionally, each applicant will be scheduled to observe a Public Safety Telecommunicator for two (2) hours in the Regional Communications Center.

How to apply

Visit: https://ucnj.org/administrative-services/  Select the Full Time/Part Time Employment application and complete the downloaded application.  The application can be emailed to gwilliams@ucnj.org

For further information, contact:

Gareth Williams, Chief Public Safety Telecommunicator
908-518-5629  gwilliams@ucnj.org

APCO Project 33

In April of 2014, the Dispatch Training program at Union County received the prestigious distinction of being certified as meeting the comprehensive 2010 American National Standards for Telecommunicator Training (ANSI 3.103.1). Union County Regional Communications is the only agency in New Jersey and the tri-state area – and one of less than 75 nationwide – that has been so certified.

Latest News

We would like to welcome the Township of Berkeley Heights and Kean University to the Union County Regional Communications Center
The Township of Berkeley Heights entered into a shared services agreement to provide 911 dispatch for Police, Fire, & EMS to the township. The transition to County Dispatch offers Berkeley Heights access to state of the art technology and services while providing the Township significant cost savings from operating their own dispatch center. Kean University has entered into an agreement for the County to process their 911 calls and to provide medical call screening and pre-arrival instructions to callers.

Rahway Fire, Cranford Fire and First Aid Squad switches over to County Dispatch
All fire and EMS calls in Rahway and Cranford are now processed by Union County Communications

Union County Regional Communications Center welcomes Roselle Park Police
As of July 1, 2019 Roselle Park Police transitioned dispatch and 911 call handling to Union County

Advance Location Services
Union County uses advanced location services to pinpoint 911 callers saving minutes on locating a 911 caller. Learn more.

List of agencies utilizing the Communications Center

• Township of Berkeley Heights 911, Police, Fire, & EMS Dispatch
• Township of Clark EMS Dispatch
• Township of Cranford 911, Fire and EMS Dispatch
• Borough of Fanwood 911, Police, Fire and EMS Dispatch
• Borough of Garwood 911 Medical Call Screening
• Township of Hillside Fire and EMS Dispatching
• Kean University 911 and Medical Call Screening
• Borough of Kenilworth 911 Medical Call Screening
• Borough of Mountainside EMS Dispatch
• City of Rahway Fire and EMS Dispatch
• Borough of Roselle Fire and EMS Dispatch
• Borough of Roselle Park 911, Police, Fire and EMS Dispatch
• Township of Scotch Plains 911, Police, Fire and EMS Dispatch
• Township of Winfield 911, Police, Fire and EMS Dispatch
• RWJ Barnabas Rahway Paramedics                        
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center Paramedics     
• Union County Fire Mutual Aid
  
• Union County EMS Mutual Aid
• Union County Hazardous Materials Unit
• Union County Police
• Union County Sheriff K9
• Metro Urban Area Search & Rescue Task Force

In the News – Union County Expanding Regional Dispatch Center

TAPinto Union Article; By Andrea Crowley-Hughes; Link to article

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The county will expand its Emergency Services Regional Dispatch Center in Westfield, allowing more towns the option to use its services for fire, EMS, mutual aid and first responders.

At Thursday’s virtual Board of County Commissioners meeting, commissioners awarded a $3.28 million contract to H&S Construction and Mechanical Inc., of Elizabeth, for Construction at the dispatch center.

A portion of the costs will be offset by a $150,000 in Local Efficiency Achievement Program Challenge Grant from the state Department of Community Affairs.

Public Safety Director Andrew Moran said the new expansion, which he expects to be completed by Jan. 1, 2022, will “set us up for the foreseeable future for dispatch needs as a shared service.”

Upon questioning from Vice Chair Rebecca Williams, Moran confirmed if the balance of towns in the county decide to use the facility for dispatching services once it is expanded, their needs could be accommodated.

The center, located in the county’s Ralph Froehlich Public Safety Building, at 400 North Ave. East, currently provides services to 14 municipalities, fire EMS, mutual aid and 27 first responder agencies.

“The dispatch center definitely cuts staffing on municipal levels, by our calculations,” Moran said. “Just out of the 14 agencies we dispatch for, we municipal agencies were able to reduce their staff by 11 personnel.”

He added that agencies using the county’s dispatch services do not have to buy expensive equipment for computer-aided dispatch, 911 systems or communications systems.