Narberth committee recommends phone-tree fixes and six-month trial of direct police administrative line

The Narberth Police Advisory Committee voted to ask the borough—s Public Health and Safety committee to (1) revise the borough phone tree and voicemail messages so callers are clearly directed on when to call 911 and (2) establish a separate police administrative phone number to be run as a six-month trial.

The recommendation came at the committee—s March meeting after the committee discussed how the current single borough number routes callers to voicemail and how some callers who should reach 911 instead leave messages that are not always returned promptly. Rebecca Starr, chair of the Narberth Police Advisory Committee, moved the recommendation and asked staff to present it to Public Health and Safety.

Committee members said the borough currently has only the general borough phone number (with a police menu option) and a fax line; there is no distinct, widely publicized direct police office number that rings to police administrative staff during business hours. John, a police department representative at the…