This article appeared on northjersey.com today. The article is restricted to "subscriber view only," so pasting a link won't work. I've copied and pasted it here instead.
Will $1.6 million fix Clifton's police radio problem? It will take six months to find out
CLIFTON — City cops will have to deal with the possibility of failed or dropped radio calls for at least six to eight more months.
After 20 years of communication failures that cops say have jeopardized their safety, the City Council authorized spending $1.6 million to buy new handheld police radios.
"We have a long road ahead of us, but I am very happy that the process has begun," Chief Mark Centurione said.
A combination
of equipment failures and dead zones have been blamed for the communication problems that plagued the department for the last two decades, say police and city officials.
Officers spoke out again about the communication failures in spring and the council made a decision to take action in April. City Manager Nick Villano said he received approval to hire an independent consultant who was tasked with determining whether the city should stick with its towers or switch to the statewide P-25 system.
The process took months.
The consultant, Rich Touroonjian of Allegiant Wireless, recommended the city join New Jersey Interoperable Communications System, also known as P-25, which uses communications systems located throughout the state.
"We tested it and it seems to work," Villano said. "The chief, some of the police brass - all seem to be in favor," Villano said.
After the city received state approval to join P-25 in early summer, officials worked with Motorola to choose the radios. A purchase order was placed on Sept. 27.
"Time is of the essence," a memo from Centurione to Villano reads. "It can take up to six months before the system is operational."
Even though the order for new radios has been placed, Villano said the solution takes time to implement, especially with a department as large as Clifton's.
Temporary safety measures have been put in place as officers await the new radios and system. Patrol vehicle GPS systems have been turned on to better track location of officers, who will also be allowed to use cellphones to communicate.
Failed calls
Early this year, Sgt. Joshin Smith experienced the radio failure when he came face to face with two wanted and fleeing theft suspects. He drew his gun and called for backup.
The police radio failed.
"I attempted to communicate with headquarters via my handset but they could not hear me," reads Smith's January police report.
After Smith's radio failed, he reached into his pocket for his cellphone and used it to notify Clifton police headquarters of his exact location in Kearny, where the police chase that had begun in Clifton came to a halt. A parent, who was there to pick up his child from an event at the nearby elementary school, "recognized the situation" and asked the officer if there was anything he could do to help.
"I instructed him to call 9-1-1," reads Smith's report of the incident. "Approximately 3 minutes later Kearny police units arrived to assist me," the officer wrote. The suspects were charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, assault on police, fleeing and a number of drug offenses.
It was not an isolated incident, say Clifton officers. Since Smith's Jan. 16 incident, at least a dozen similar radio failure complaints have been recorded.
Taking action
Department of Labor and Workforce Development launched an investigation into the failed calls in April after it received complaints from officers. The investigation was concluded in July and on Aug. 22 the state issued an order to the city to resolve the radio concerns within 15 days.
Officers also filed a complaint with the Public Employees' Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), citing unsafe working conditions.
The council's authorization for funds comes after months of experts examining the radio communications problem, the cost to fix it and the solutions.
The city has a few well known dead zones in spite of spaced-out towers, Villano said.
While in the city's Botany section during the summer, Villano said he witnessed two officers, about 100 yards apart, unable to communicate via radio. There was no doubt something had to be done, he said.
The city was able to place an order for the equipment with a pre-approved state contractor list, which expedited the process, officials said
The council approved the purchase last Tuesday.
"What’s most important is that the communication system is dependable most especially during police operations that are sensitive," said Mayor James Anzaldi.