The city debuted its new 911 dispatching system this week with hopes that a new streamlined system will reduce response times to emergencies, officials said Tuesday.

The new system - which went into effect Monday at 5 a.m. - will funnel all calls to NYPD operators so a caller to 911 would only have to describe an emergency once before help is dispatched, officials said.

Under the old system, a caller would first speak to an NYPD call taker who would then connect in an FDNY operator, often forcing panicked civilians to repeat themselves. But now a caller will speak only to an NYPD operator, who would then send computer messages to FDNY and EMS dispatchers.

"Under the new call-taking system that eliminates a redundant step in the process, emergency units are being dispatched faster than ever before, saving precious seconds and potentially life and property," said City Hall spokesman Jason Post.

The NYPD dispatchers, who will move to a state-of-the-art Brooklyn facility this summer, have received three months of training, which officials hope will quell grumbling from some rank-and-file responders who believe police operators lack the experience to determine which specialized FDNY or EMS units should be sent to a crisis.

"There have been a few minor glitches as we get used to the new system," said one law enforcement source, pointing to a 45-second system outage Monday that slightly delayed the response to a small Queens fire. "But it's a change for the better."

The new protocol, which was supported by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, is part of a $1.5 billion 911 system overhaul that will also include construction of new backup call center in the Bronx.