Cell phones will be distributed Feb. 18.
By: Lea Kahn
Aiming to provide senior citizens with an added measure of security, township officials plan to distribute 40 free cell phones next week that are pre-programmed to dial 911.
The free cell phones will be distributed Feb. 18 at 3:15 p.m. in the training room at the Lawrence Township Police Department and Municipal Court building, opposite the Municipal Building.
The mobile phones will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis to Lawrence senior citizens, said Steven Groeger, township superintendent of recreation. The phones are ones that people have donated to the Lawrence Township Police Department after getting new cell phones.
There is no service charge for the cell phones, but they can only be used to call 911, Mr. Groeger said. Senior citizens cannot use them to call friends or family, because they are not connected to any of the cellular service providers.
When a caller dials 911 from the cell phone, the call will not be connected to the local police department, Mr. Groeger said. Instead, the call will be sent to New Jersey State Police dispatchers, who will direct the call to the proper police department.
For example, if a Lawrence Township senior citizen makes a 911 cell phone call from Hamilton Township, the call will be sent to the State Police dispatcher. It will be important for the caller to explain the nature of the emergency and where they are, Mr. Groeger said. Once the dispatcher knows the call is being made from Hamilton Township, that township’s police department will be contacted.
This is not the first time that cell phones have been distributed to Lawrence senior citizens. Township officials initiated the program last year and the mobile phones are handed out periodically.

