Publish Date: 3/1/2007
City facing major radio decisions
By Trevor Hughes
The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT — The city is facing a tough choice over how to best upgrade the radio system that police officers and firefighters use to talk to each other and their colleagues at other agencies.
Consultants have recommended the city spend $5.9 million to join a statewide digital radio system used by Weld and Larimer counties, the Colorado State Patrol and many Denver-area agencies.
But buying into that system would mean Longmont police officers would have a harder time talking directly to Boulder County sheriff’s deputies.
And city emergency communication managers are loath to give up that capability, or even to tinker with it.
“There are a lot of things we’re going to have to decide before we figure out what way we’re going to go,” said Bill Scott, the city’s emergency communications manager. “You’re looking at humongous costs.”
The federal government is pushing public safety agencies to do a better job of using radio systems that can communicate with each other. The push came, in large part, because New York City firefighters and police officers rushing into the collapsing World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, were unable to warn each other of the danger.
Colorado saw a similar situation during the 1999 Columbine High School shootings, when police officers from all over the Denver area raced to the school only to be unable to talk directly to each other.
In light of that problem, the state created the Digital Trunked Radio System, DTRS for short, and began pushing local departments to join.
But Boulder County has no immediate plans to join, largely because the county’s current system works better in the mountains than the relatively new DTRS.
Boulder County’s decision not to make the jump immediately is forcing Longmont officials to think hard about their options.
Scott, a former deputy police chief, knows how important it is for police officers to know their colleagues are only a radio call away. Today, city police officers can talk directly to any Boulder sheriff’s deputy because they all use the same kind of radio.
“There is a tremendous amount of value placed by the officers on that alone,” Scott said.
The statewide system uses a totally different type of radio. The current Longmont and Boulder systems can be “patched” into the state system, but that requires the aid of a 911 dispatcher. It’s not as fast as simply talking into the radio.
But Longmont’s current radio system has its own problems. The city has not spent any significant funds over at least the past 15 years to make it work in all of the new large buildings around Longmont. Additionally, police officers and firefighters are covering a physically larger city, and that requires upgrades to radio antennas and transmitters.
Longmont began reviewing its radio system after police and firefighters began complaining about communication problems.
Consultants found that police officers and firefighters “daily” have problems communicating with each other and with dispatchers, and the problems “endanger these city employees and the general public.”
While the consultant, Federal Engineering Inc., did not identify specific incidents, police officers point to Jan. 10, 2005, when a drunk, suicidal woman in the LongView Estates mobile home park shot at Longmont police officers and Weld County deputies. Though the subdivision was in Weld County, Longmont officers who were called in to aid their Weld County colleagues ended up shooting and killing 61-year-old Dianne Carlsten.
In the aftermath, officials acknowledged difficulties in dealing with the situation because Longmont police couldn’t talk directly to Weld County deputies. They use different radio systems and frequencies.
“Several recent incidents revealed these gaps to be problematic, and they will likely become more prevalent or cause more critical situations,” the consultants said.
They also said the city could also upgrade its current system. Either option will cost millions, but the consultants recommended joining the statewide system as in investment in the future.
However, a digital radio for the DTRS system can cost up to $4,000, while the radios used by Longmont police cost about $400.
That’s one of the main reasons Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle is reluctant to jump onboard with DTRS.
Boulder County uses the exact same radio system as Longmont does, and officers and deputies regularly monitor their respective channels in case of emergency.
“I see and feel a tremendous amount of pressure from the state and federal government to change,” Pelle said.
Unlike Longmont police, Boulder County deputies work mostly outside. The county also has upgraded its system over the years, to the point where the radios work poorly in only a few isolated places, such as South St. Vrain Canyon.
Pelle said he’s aware that Longmont is considering moving to the state system and said he’s planning to resist making such a move anytime soon.
“It works, and it’s paid for,” Pelle said of the current Boulder County system. “I’m in no huge hurry to replace it, and I’m not going to throw it out at this point.”
City facing major radio decisions
By Trevor Hughes
The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT — The city is facing a tough choice over how to best upgrade the radio system that police officers and firefighters use to talk to each other and their colleagues at other agencies.
Consultants have recommended the city spend $5.9 million to join a statewide digital radio system used by Weld and Larimer counties, the Colorado State Patrol and many Denver-area agencies.
But buying into that system would mean Longmont police officers would have a harder time talking directly to Boulder County sheriff’s deputies.
And city emergency communication managers are loath to give up that capability, or even to tinker with it.
“There are a lot of things we’re going to have to decide before we figure out what way we’re going to go,” said Bill Scott, the city’s emergency communications manager. “You’re looking at humongous costs.”
The federal government is pushing public safety agencies to do a better job of using radio systems that can communicate with each other. The push came, in large part, because New York City firefighters and police officers rushing into the collapsing World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, were unable to warn each other of the danger.
Colorado saw a similar situation during the 1999 Columbine High School shootings, when police officers from all over the Denver area raced to the school only to be unable to talk directly to each other.
In light of that problem, the state created the Digital Trunked Radio System, DTRS for short, and began pushing local departments to join.
But Boulder County has no immediate plans to join, largely because the county’s current system works better in the mountains than the relatively new DTRS.
Boulder County’s decision not to make the jump immediately is forcing Longmont officials to think hard about their options.
Scott, a former deputy police chief, knows how important it is for police officers to know their colleagues are only a radio call away. Today, city police officers can talk directly to any Boulder sheriff’s deputy because they all use the same kind of radio.
“There is a tremendous amount of value placed by the officers on that alone,” Scott said.
The statewide system uses a totally different type of radio. The current Longmont and Boulder systems can be “patched” into the state system, but that requires the aid of a 911 dispatcher. It’s not as fast as simply talking into the radio.
But Longmont’s current radio system has its own problems. The city has not spent any significant funds over at least the past 15 years to make it work in all of the new large buildings around Longmont. Additionally, police officers and firefighters are covering a physically larger city, and that requires upgrades to radio antennas and transmitters.
Longmont began reviewing its radio system after police and firefighters began complaining about communication problems.
Consultants found that police officers and firefighters “daily” have problems communicating with each other and with dispatchers, and the problems “endanger these city employees and the general public.”
While the consultant, Federal Engineering Inc., did not identify specific incidents, police officers point to Jan. 10, 2005, when a drunk, suicidal woman in the LongView Estates mobile home park shot at Longmont police officers and Weld County deputies. Though the subdivision was in Weld County, Longmont officers who were called in to aid their Weld County colleagues ended up shooting and killing 61-year-old Dianne Carlsten.
In the aftermath, officials acknowledged difficulties in dealing with the situation because Longmont police couldn’t talk directly to Weld County deputies. They use different radio systems and frequencies.
“Several recent incidents revealed these gaps to be problematic, and they will likely become more prevalent or cause more critical situations,” the consultants said.
They also said the city could also upgrade its current system. Either option will cost millions, but the consultants recommended joining the statewide system as in investment in the future.
However, a digital radio for the DTRS system can cost up to $4,000, while the radios used by Longmont police cost about $400.
That’s one of the main reasons Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle is reluctant to jump onboard with DTRS.
Boulder County uses the exact same radio system as Longmont does, and officers and deputies regularly monitor their respective channels in case of emergency.
“I see and feel a tremendous amount of pressure from the state and federal government to change,” Pelle said.
Unlike Longmont police, Boulder County deputies work mostly outside. The county also has upgraded its system over the years, to the point where the radios work poorly in only a few isolated places, such as South St. Vrain Canyon.
Pelle said he’s aware that Longmont is considering moving to the state system and said he’s planning to resist making such a move anytime soon.
“It works, and it’s paid for,” Pelle said of the current Boulder County system. “I’m in no huge hurry to replace it, and I’m not going to throw it out at this point.”
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