Rockland County, NY – Rockland County residents who call 911 for emergencies may soon experience a more advanced and structured response system as the Sheriff’s Office Communications Division rolls out the Medical and Fire Priority Dispatch System (MPDS and FPDS). Sheriff Louis Falco III and County Executive Ed Day announced the implementation, emphasizing its role in improving emergency response and saving lives.
The Priority Dispatch System introduces internationally recognized, research-based protocols designed to assess life-threatening situations quickly and prioritize calls for service effectively. Falco highlighted the benefits of the system, noting that Priority Dispatch incorporates data from millions of emergency calls nationwide to ensure consistent and optimal responses.
“There are many benefits to such well-developed protocols,” Falco said. “This system is research-based, continuously evaluated, and revised to provide the best emergency response possible. It ensures that every 911 call is handled according to the highest standards.”
Day praised the initiative as a major step forward in enhancing public safety. “When residents call 911, they deserve the best possible emergency response, and that starts with the professionals answering the call,” Day said. “This new system ensures our radio operators have the most advanced training and tools available to provide lifesaving assistance the moment the phone rings. I commend Sheriff Falco and his team for their commitment to public safety and am proud that we were able to secure the necessary funding to make this critical enhancement a reality.”
The Communications Division, which handles over 300,000 calls annually from facilities in Pomona and New City, has a team of approximately 40 highly trained radio operators. These operators manage police, fire, and medical emergencies while also providing dispatch services for the New York State Police and New York State Park Police operating in Rockland County.
As part of the new system, all radio operators have undergone extensive additional training to become certified as emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) and emergency fire dispatchers (EFDs) through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED). This specialized training equips them to handle a wide range of emergency situations, including strokes, cardiac arrests, snakebites, CPR administration, overdoses, structure fires, and rescue operations.
Chief of the Communications Division, Adam Feuer, reassured residents that help will be dispatched immediately upon identifying the location and chief complaint of an emergency. “One important thing for residents to understand is that as soon as the operator has identified the location of the emergency and the main issue, help will be sent right away,” Feuer said. “The operator will continue asking questions and providing instructions, but emergency responders will already be en route. In many cases, the emergency instructions provided over the phone can make a lifesaving difference.”
The funding for the Priority Dispatch System was secured through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Falco worked in collaboration with County Executive Day and the Rockland County Legislature to ensure that Rockland County residents receive expert, timely care when calling 911.
With the implementation of the Priority Dispatch System, Rockland County is taking a significant step forward in modernizing its emergency response capabilities, reinforcing its commitment to public safety, and ensuring that every 911 call is met with the highest level of preparedness and expertise.