Grant funds emergency radio upgrade
By R. SCOTT RAPPOLD THE GAZETTE
Emergency officials in El Paso County have received a $4.5 million federal grant for a major upgrade to the local radio system, meant to ease communication problems with state and federal authorities, who operate on different systems.
Scanner junkies take heart: Officials say current digital monitors still will function when local police and fire departments switch to the system in two years.
It is known as Project 25, the accepted national standard for emergency responders, and the Pikes Peak Regional Communication Network will spend $6 million to bring it here, including a $1.5 million local match divided among the 51 agencies using the network.
The grant comes from the Department of Justice, which is encouraging local emergency officials to switch to the system to be prepared for a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
“Law enforcement learned a huge lesson (during the Columbine High School killings) when all the responders came together and couldn’t talk to anybody,” said Mora Fiedler, grants coordinator for the Colorado Springs Police Department.
El Paso County switched from its analog network to a digital system, a $25 million endeavor, in 2001.
In the same way computers become obsolete within a few years, though, a newer digital system has become available, and it is used by the Colorado State Patrol and military officials.
That sometimes makes things difficult for local police and firefighters.
“We’ve always had a problem with not being able to communicate with the state, because we work so closely with them,” said Lt. Clif Northam, spokesman for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Instead of deputies being able to talk with troopers, their dispatchers talk to each other by phone and relay information to the respective officers. The delay can be crucial during incidents such as police chases.
It’s the same problem Colorado Springs police have when they need to communicate with Fort Carson, Fiedler said.
The new system puts them on the same wavelength and eventually could allow instant communication between a local officer and one in another state.
Most of the $6 million will go toward central controlling equipment, said Dan Gorton, system manager for the Pikes Peak Regional Communication Network. The hundreds of vehicles and handheld radios in the network will need little work.
Colorado Springs residents with their own scanners also may need to get some minor adjustment, but Gorton said they still will pick up transmissions.
“I think most scanners in the market probably have defaulted to Project 25, and to make them work on our current system is a step backward,” Gorton said.
By R. SCOTT RAPPOLD THE GAZETTE
Emergency officials in El Paso County have received a $4.5 million federal grant for a major upgrade to the local radio system, meant to ease communication problems with state and federal authorities, who operate on different systems.
Scanner junkies take heart: Officials say current digital monitors still will function when local police and fire departments switch to the system in two years.
It is known as Project 25, the accepted national standard for emergency responders, and the Pikes Peak Regional Communication Network will spend $6 million to bring it here, including a $1.5 million local match divided among the 51 agencies using the network.
The grant comes from the Department of Justice, which is encouraging local emergency officials to switch to the system to be prepared for a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
“Law enforcement learned a huge lesson (during the Columbine High School killings) when all the responders came together and couldn’t talk to anybody,” said Mora Fiedler, grants coordinator for the Colorado Springs Police Department.
El Paso County switched from its analog network to a digital system, a $25 million endeavor, in 2001.
In the same way computers become obsolete within a few years, though, a newer digital system has become available, and it is used by the Colorado State Patrol and military officials.
That sometimes makes things difficult for local police and firefighters.
“We’ve always had a problem with not being able to communicate with the state, because we work so closely with them,” said Lt. Clif Northam, spokesman for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Instead of deputies being able to talk with troopers, their dispatchers talk to each other by phone and relay information to the respective officers. The delay can be crucial during incidents such as police chases.
It’s the same problem Colorado Springs police have when they need to communicate with Fort Carson, Fiedler said.
The new system puts them on the same wavelength and eventually could allow instant communication between a local officer and one in another state.
Most of the $6 million will go toward central controlling equipment, said Dan Gorton, system manager for the Pikes Peak Regional Communication Network. The hundreds of vehicles and handheld radios in the network will need little work.
Colorado Springs residents with their own scanners also may need to get some minor adjustment, but Gorton said they still will pick up transmissions.
“I think most scanners in the market probably have defaulted to Project 25, and to make them work on our current system is a step backward,” Gorton said.
