As multiple law enforcement agencies and rescue crews descended upon a cargo plane crash near Toledo Express Airport in 1992 that killed three crewmen and a passenger, radio communication between them was silent.
Responders from various fire and police departments couldn't communicate because each agency used different radio systems and frequencies.
But a multimillion-dollar overhaul of Lucas County's communication system, which is almost complete, will link all the county's police and fire agencies into one system, allowing them to exchange information seamlessly, said Mike Koontz, director of countywide communications.
"Everybody was kind of in their own little communication world," he said. "We certainly weren't inoperable, but it took a lot of figuring to talk to people."
After Toledo police make the switch tomorrow and Sylvania Township moves to the new system early next month, all 31 jurisdictions in the county will be connected, Mr. Koontz said.
With the new digital radios, a police officer in Toledo can flip the channel and talk to a firefighter in Whitehouse - something that wasn't possible before.
Also as part of the upgrade, Lucas County will tie into a statewide system called the Multi Agency Radio Communications System, or MARCS.
It allows firefighters and police officers here the ability to communicate with agencies across the state which are using the same 800-megahertz radio system, Mr. Koontz said.
The county purchased about 2,800 radios and Mr. Koontz said area fire and police departments were asked to pay for a portion of the costs. They were not asked, however, to chip in for the infrastructure and cost of implementing the system, which was about $24 million.
Lucas County Sheriff James Telb said about three-fourths of the project was paid for with federal grants and the county 911 levy.
Unlike the analog radios the county used previously, digital radios can transmit signals from almost anywhere in the county, including underground, Sheriff Telb said.
He said new radios were tested in basements, tunnels, and boiler rooms. "Everything works," he said.
And that alone could help save lives.
Damon Williams, acting captain of Toledo fire communications, agreed.
He said improving communication among multiple agencies that respond to large incidents will allow operations to run more smoothly and safely.
"You'll never eliminate the chaos of an incident itself," Captain Williams said. "[But] having an effective communication system actually makes it much safer for those operating on the scene."
The fire department has been using the new radios for a little more than a week.
Toledo police Deputy Chief Derrick Diggs said the upgraded system will help police in situations such as a chase Jan. 9 that began in Sylvania Township and ended in Toledo.
Deputy Chief Diggs said if the various agencies involved had been using the new radio system, they would have been better able to communicate and work together more cohesively during the pursuit.
John VanHersett, a detective with Washington Township police, said his department switched to the countywide system about two weeks ago.
Because of their proximity, Washington Township police often assist Toledo police. But to communicate with them, Detective VanHersett said officers have needed to carry both their own radio and a second one that is compatible with the system Toledo police use.
"As you're coming up to something, you're not thinking about having to grab two or three different radios," he said. "That was always a problem."
But tomorrow, that should no longer be an issue, he said.
"It's almost hard to describe how much easier it's going to be," Mr. VanHersett said.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/NEWS33/801280342
Responders from various fire and police departments couldn't communicate because each agency used different radio systems and frequencies.
But a multimillion-dollar overhaul of Lucas County's communication system, which is almost complete, will link all the county's police and fire agencies into one system, allowing them to exchange information seamlessly, said Mike Koontz, director of countywide communications.
"Everybody was kind of in their own little communication world," he said. "We certainly weren't inoperable, but it took a lot of figuring to talk to people."
After Toledo police make the switch tomorrow and Sylvania Township moves to the new system early next month, all 31 jurisdictions in the county will be connected, Mr. Koontz said.
With the new digital radios, a police officer in Toledo can flip the channel and talk to a firefighter in Whitehouse - something that wasn't possible before.
Also as part of the upgrade, Lucas County will tie into a statewide system called the Multi Agency Radio Communications System, or MARCS.
It allows firefighters and police officers here the ability to communicate with agencies across the state which are using the same 800-megahertz radio system, Mr. Koontz said.
The county purchased about 2,800 radios and Mr. Koontz said area fire and police departments were asked to pay for a portion of the costs. They were not asked, however, to chip in for the infrastructure and cost of implementing the system, which was about $24 million.
Lucas County Sheriff James Telb said about three-fourths of the project was paid for with federal grants and the county 911 levy.
Unlike the analog radios the county used previously, digital radios can transmit signals from almost anywhere in the county, including underground, Sheriff Telb said.
He said new radios were tested in basements, tunnels, and boiler rooms. "Everything works," he said.
And that alone could help save lives.
Damon Williams, acting captain of Toledo fire communications, agreed.
He said improving communication among multiple agencies that respond to large incidents will allow operations to run more smoothly and safely.
"You'll never eliminate the chaos of an incident itself," Captain Williams said. "[But] having an effective communication system actually makes it much safer for those operating on the scene."
The fire department has been using the new radios for a little more than a week.
Toledo police Deputy Chief Derrick Diggs said the upgraded system will help police in situations such as a chase Jan. 9 that began in Sylvania Township and ended in Toledo.
Deputy Chief Diggs said if the various agencies involved had been using the new radio system, they would have been better able to communicate and work together more cohesively during the pursuit.
John VanHersett, a detective with Washington Township police, said his department switched to the countywide system about two weeks ago.
Because of their proximity, Washington Township police often assist Toledo police. But to communicate with them, Detective VanHersett said officers have needed to carry both their own radio and a second one that is compatible with the system Toledo police use.
"As you're coming up to something, you're not thinking about having to grab two or three different radios," he said. "That was always a problem."
But tomorrow, that should no longer be an issue, he said.
"It's almost hard to describe how much easier it's going to be," Mr. VanHersett said.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/NEWS33/801280342
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