Gerard Falzo recently celebrated his 40th anniversary of working with the Livingston Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Currently a dispatcher at Police Headquarters, Falzo’s four decade tenure also included working on the first aid squad and the town’s auxiliary police force, as well as serving as a crossing guard.
Falzo grew up on Wilson Terrace. He went to St. Philomena’s School and graduated from Livingston High School in 1982. He went on to Kean College, now Kean University, where he studied political science and criminal justice.
Growing up in Livingston has proven beneficial to Falzo’s role behind the dispatch desk, as his familiarity with the town, businesses, and streets has aided him in quickly sending EMS where it is needed.
“I think my background prepared me very well for this,” he said.
Falzo explained that his start with the township’s service came after a discussion with former dispatcher Ted Vassil.
“I was doing things around town and saw people get injured, but I didn’t know what to do,” he said.
One day while at Riker Hill Park, he saw someone get hit in the head with a baseball and wanted to assist them.
“I asked Ted what I could do to help and he said ‘Join the First Aid Squad so you can help them,’” Falzo said. “So that’s what I did.”
After joining the First Aid Squad, he also became a crossing guard. He manned his post near Mt. Pleasant Middle School for three years.
Falzo then applied and was accepted to join the Livingston Auxiliary Police Department. After completing the Police Academy, he was then trained by Livingston officers. Initially, he was on the streets with a seasoned officer, so he was able to gain an understanding of his role.
By the time he started working the dispatch desk, he felt prepared.
“I knew the types of calls I was sending people out on and what they would need because I was on those calls,” he said. “It fit nicely that when I’m working the desk and an emergency call comes in, I know ‘Okay, this is a fire, police, or medical call.’” Falzo believes that his role behind the dispatch desk is that of a helper and a manager.
“We get them the help they need and calm the situation down, but sometimes the calls are very dynamic,” he said. “You have to make sure that all the proper resources are sent, that they arrive, and that they all come back. It’s very important to me that the people I send to help others don’t get hurt.”
He said that dealing with intense emotions during people calling the dispatch desk comes with the territory of manning the desk.
“People get very upset and call for help, so you’ve got to be the one to stay calm and get all the resources there,” he said. He believes the most important job of the dispatcher is to stay calm, listen, get all the necessary information, and send the help to the correct location.
Falzo shared that of all the calls he answers while working the dispatch desk, the calls involving suicide are especially delicate.
“Although we’re sending officers to deal with it, that might be a two or three minute timespan until they get there, so those two or three minutes you’re talking with them can feel like four or five hours,” he said. “You want to speak to them and calm them down as best you can.”
He often receives calls about neighborly disputes, which can sometimes be more light-hearted than the serious calls.
“In the fall people, will call up and say ‘My neighbor’s leaves are blowing onto my lawn and I already cleaned my lawn,’” Falzo said, adding that, while he can understand the frustration, he tries to explain to the caller that the weather and wind are causing those issues.
“However, every call is different,” he said, “and you have to understand that different things upset different people, so for them this can be seen as an emergency.”
Falzo celebrated his milestone anniversary like any regular day at work.
“I remember the first day like it was yesterday,” he said. “Where did the time go?”
He also noted the commitment and enthusiasm of his coworkers has kept him motivated over the decades.
“Everyone involved in the Livingston Emergency Medical Service System are all very dedicated,” he said. “They do not let things like storms, flooding, or severe weather stop them.”
Despite hitting 40 years with the Livingston EMS service, Falzo has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
“It has been my honor and privilege to be a member of the EMS system in Livingston,” he said.
Two older versions of Falzo’s Livingston Police Department trading cards feature him hanging out in the Bat Mobile, and on a boat.
Gerard Falzo, a 1982 graduate of Livingston High School, currently works the dispatch desk at Police Headquarters. Shown here, Falzo poses for a photo near the Livingston Police Department’s seal.
Shown here, Falzo’s Livingston Police Department trading card features a shot of him with a restored, antique police cruiser.
