BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- An evaluation is under way to determine what is wrong with Battle Creek's new, almost $4 million police radio system.
"I am frustrated because of the problems," said Cmdr. Jackie Hampton, supervisor of the Patrol Division of the Battle Creek Police Department. "We are having dropped calls where the officers can't hear dispatch and dispatch can't hear the officers."
In March, police in the metropolitan area, including Battle Creek, Emmett Township and Springfield, replaced a VHF system with an 800-megahertz radio system. The system is paid for by a 4 percent E-911 telephone surcharge on area residents until 2015.
The new system allows users to be part of the Michigan Public Safety Communications System, a state-wide network of local, state and federal agencies.
"The 800s are the way to go," said Rob Coles, Springfield's public safety director. "It's a good system and the voice transmission is much clearer."
Neither Coles nor Captain Matt Saxton of the Calhoun County Sheriff Department have reported problems with the new radios.
"The switchover went smoother than I thought it would be," Saxton said. "We haven't had any major problems other than some training and getting used to the new system. And I have noticed better coverage throughout the whole county."
But Battle Creek and Emmett Township police have reported difficulties.
Battle Creek's Assistant City Manager Ken Tsuchiyama said Thursday city officials are working with the vendor, Motorola, to find the problem and he expects a status report today.
"We have to figure out what is causing it," he said. "We are not the technical folks, so our vendor brought in an engineer to try to help determine what is causing the problem."
He said suggested causes being investigated include the heavy traffic volume, not enough radio towers, using the system before a new dispatch center is built, and the decision to use a fully encrypted system, which prevents monitoring by police scanners.
But he said all those issues were anticipated and so far none have been determined as a problem.
"It is just frustrating for us because we don't have the technical expertise but we have the problems and we want it fixed," he said. "We share the concern (of officers) that we don't want (officers) or citizens put in a situation where safety is compromised. It is a serious concern that we are not taking lightly."
Emmett Lt. Tony Geigle agrees the system could be a good one.
"It is the latest in technology," Geigle said. "The concept is great. But it has been so unreliable. We get in buildings and can't get a signal and if you can't get a signal it's a dead stick. It's a paperweight."
That argument is echoed by the city officers.
"They spent millions of dollars to replace a system that wasn't broken and it is crap," said Battle Creek Officer Joe Wilder, president of the Police Officers Labor Council which represents patrol officers. "Since we got the radio system we have had nothing but problems."
Wilder said he has missed radio traffic from central dispatch.
"I was in my district and the call was a man with a gun or a domestic, and I heard other officers acknowledge but I never heard it," he said.
Wilder said officers don't have confidence in the system and are afraid that someone might be hurt because they can't reach other officers by radio.
"We can talk to everyone in the state but I can't talk to my own crew on the street," Wilder said. "I don't care if I can talk to Ithaca. We are saying we have a problem and we are talking about the communication system which, other than our gun, is our most important tool."
Hampton said the police administration also has complained about the system.
"We want to stay optimistic but it is getting tough," he said. "We have a lot of money and time involved in the 800 MHz and we want this system to work. I am not comfortable at all with the status of radio communications."
Battle Creek Commissioner Deb Owens said she met with City Manager Wayne Wiley last week after hearing about the problems.
"I have nothing against the 800," she said. "The purpose is good but if it is not working it is putting our officers at risk. What it boils down to is intermittent (coverage) and intermittent bothers me because one could cost the lives of one of our police officers.
"They claim they tested it but I don't know why the issues were not discovered," she said. "They are working on it and I know they will resolve it. They are on top of it but it is a little late."
"I am frustrated because of the problems," said Cmdr. Jackie Hampton, supervisor of the Patrol Division of the Battle Creek Police Department. "We are having dropped calls where the officers can't hear dispatch and dispatch can't hear the officers."
In March, police in the metropolitan area, including Battle Creek, Emmett Township and Springfield, replaced a VHF system with an 800-megahertz radio system. The system is paid for by a 4 percent E-911 telephone surcharge on area residents until 2015.
The new system allows users to be part of the Michigan Public Safety Communications System, a state-wide network of local, state and federal agencies.
"The 800s are the way to go," said Rob Coles, Springfield's public safety director. "It's a good system and the voice transmission is much clearer."
Neither Coles nor Captain Matt Saxton of the Calhoun County Sheriff Department have reported problems with the new radios.
"The switchover went smoother than I thought it would be," Saxton said. "We haven't had any major problems other than some training and getting used to the new system. And I have noticed better coverage throughout the whole county."
But Battle Creek and Emmett Township police have reported difficulties.
Battle Creek's Assistant City Manager Ken Tsuchiyama said Thursday city officials are working with the vendor, Motorola, to find the problem and he expects a status report today.
"We have to figure out what is causing it," he said. "We are not the technical folks, so our vendor brought in an engineer to try to help determine what is causing the problem."
He said suggested causes being investigated include the heavy traffic volume, not enough radio towers, using the system before a new dispatch center is built, and the decision to use a fully encrypted system, which prevents monitoring by police scanners.
But he said all those issues were anticipated and so far none have been determined as a problem.
"It is just frustrating for us because we don't have the technical expertise but we have the problems and we want it fixed," he said. "We share the concern (of officers) that we don't want (officers) or citizens put in a situation where safety is compromised. It is a serious concern that we are not taking lightly."
Emmett Lt. Tony Geigle agrees the system could be a good one.
"It is the latest in technology," Geigle said. "The concept is great. But it has been so unreliable. We get in buildings and can't get a signal and if you can't get a signal it's a dead stick. It's a paperweight."
That argument is echoed by the city officers.
"They spent millions of dollars to replace a system that wasn't broken and it is crap," said Battle Creek Officer Joe Wilder, president of the Police Officers Labor Council which represents patrol officers. "Since we got the radio system we have had nothing but problems."
Wilder said he has missed radio traffic from central dispatch.
"I was in my district and the call was a man with a gun or a domestic, and I heard other officers acknowledge but I never heard it," he said.
Wilder said officers don't have confidence in the system and are afraid that someone might be hurt because they can't reach other officers by radio.
"We can talk to everyone in the state but I can't talk to my own crew on the street," Wilder said. "I don't care if I can talk to Ithaca. We are saying we have a problem and we are talking about the communication system which, other than our gun, is our most important tool."
Hampton said the police administration also has complained about the system.
"We want to stay optimistic but it is getting tough," he said. "We have a lot of money and time involved in the 800 MHz and we want this system to work. I am not comfortable at all with the status of radio communications."
Battle Creek Commissioner Deb Owens said she met with City Manager Wayne Wiley last week after hearing about the problems.
"I have nothing against the 800," she said. "The purpose is good but if it is not working it is putting our officers at risk. What it boils down to is intermittent (coverage) and intermittent bothers me because one could cost the lives of one of our police officers.
"They claim they tested it but I don't know why the issues were not discovered," she said. "They are working on it and I know they will resolve it. They are on top of it but it is a little late."
