Our View
Go forward on reverse 911

A proposal to implement a "reverse 911" system in Old Bridge should be approved by the Township Council.

The idea of having an emergency notification system in this post-9/11 world makes sense for any municipality, but particularly for Old Bridge, which is large in both size and population, and is located just a short distance from New York City.

The system would provide assistance during potential emergency situations that existed even before the term "bioterrorism" became a household word. It can alert residents about missing persons, about a major crime, or give instructions regarding evacuation routes in the event of a flood or other disaster. In fact, in cases where the police would field questions by residents — such as the recent Staten Island barge explosion, which many initially feared was no accident — the system can be useful for dispersing information townshipwide, and allaying fears.

In 2003, of course, most residents can see the usefulness of reverse 911 as a way to react to an act of terrorism.

Some township officials expressed concerns about the purchase during discussions last year, and even after a presentation by a township police sergeant, they were not convinced the system was needed. But recently, police Capt. Robert Bonfante, also a member of Middlesex County’s Counterintelligence and Terror-ism Unit, gave the purchase his approval.

"This decision and the safety of this community rests in your hands," Bonfante told the council.

Though it will cost $68,000 to start up and up to $10,000 a year in maintenance, the decision for the council should be easy enough.