THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANNING AGENCY, PLANS WERE UNDERTAKEN IN 1972 TO OPERATE A FLEDGLING REGIONAL POLICE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK INVOLVING FIVE COMMUNITIES IN SUSSEX AND MORRIS COUNTIES. AS OF 1978, THE SUSSEX-MORRIS NETWORK SERVES PARTS OF THREE COUNTIES, INCLUDING AGENCIES IN EIGHT MUNICIPALITIES. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND OPERATIONS BOARDS IS OBTAINED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD SELECTION OF A NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR FROM AMONG THE POLICE CHIEFS; THE ADMINISTRATOR OVERSEES THE BOOKKEEPING AND FISCAL MATTERS. DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS ARE DIRECTED BY A CHIEF DISPATCHER WHO HAS A LIAISON CHIEF ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE TO RESOLVE MOST ROUTINE PROBLEMS. THE BUDGET FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, SALARIES, AND WAGES IS APPORTIONED TO THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES BASED ON A FORMULA WHICH INCLUDES BOTH POPULATION AND USE CRITERIA. DETAILS OF FISCAL OPERATIONS ARE EXPLAINED. ALL INVOLVED POLICE AGENCIES USE A RECORDS SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE. CONTINUED USE OF A 24-HOUR MULTICHANNEL TAPE SYSTEM AND INSTANT PLAYBACK HAVE PROVEN THEIR CONSIDERABLE VALUE IN RECONSTRUCTING MESSAGES AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNCLEAR. ALL ROUTINE TELEPHONE CALLS ARE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO THE RESPECTIVE HEADQUARTERS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. ALL EMERGENCY CALLS ARE HANDLED BY THE DISPATCHER DIRECTLY WITH PATROL PERSONNEL WITHOUT INDIVIDUAL HEADQUARTERS INVOLVED. THE NETWORK ALSO DISPATCHES FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES THROUGH TONE-ALERT RADIO EQUIPMENT IN THE VARIOUS VOLUNTEERS' HOMES. SOME DISPATCH SERVICE IS RENDERED TO THE ROAD DEPARTMENTS OF PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES. COSTS AND RESPONSE TIME HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. FURTHER UPGRADING OF RADIO HARDWARE AND THE USE OF COMPUTERIZED DATA PROCESSING ARE EXPECTED FOR THE FUTURE. (RCB)