Woodbridge Receives Grant for Emergency Communications Upgrade

Woodbridge received a $10,000 grant to fund the upgrade and enhancement of the police department’s emergency response and communications system.  Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Port Authority Executive Director Bill Baroni delivered the grant to Mayor John McCormac, who accepted on behalf of the township during a short press conference at town hall Friday.

Noting that the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is only months away, Guadagno stressed the need for state communities to receive the funding they need to be prepared against future events.

“If there is any funding left untouched at the Port Authority, it needs to come back to New Jersey,” Guadagno said, noting that Woodbridge is one of several towns in New Jersey to receive grant money from Gov. Chris Christie's office and the Port Authority to bolster its emergency communications capabilities.

The emergency communications system connects Woodbridge police, fire, and emergency medical services, as well as local government services  such as the Office of Emergency Management, the Dept. of Public Works, and other departments which are essential in an emergency situation.  

The system was launched earlier this year and replaced an older radio system that did not allow such communication between the agencies.  “It’s the quintessential shared network,” said Guadagno.

The new communications system should also lead to additional funds for the township, McCormac said.  “Our system is large enough to handle towns around us” at little additional cost, the mayor noted, allowing the township to bring neighboring towns onto the Woodbridge network for a fee.

Woodbridge handles over 100,000 service and emergency calls annually, according to Woodbridge Police Director Robert Hubner.