HURST -- Because the Police Department's radio network is so outdated, Hurst police have not been able to communicate with the city's firefighters or with law enforcement officials in other Northeast Tarrant County cities.
That's about to change.
City Council members have unanimously approved spending almost $2 million to upgrade emergency responders' communication equipment.
"The Police Department is in a 451 [megahertz], an old system," said Police Chief Steve Moore. "The Fire Department is in an 800, and surrounding police departments are in an 800, so we cannot communicate with them by radio."
Moore said the greatest issue is officer safety, such as armed standoffs when suspects are barricaded.
In such situations, "we have to call and have our dispatcher call their dispatchers to tell them whatever we want to tell them," Moore said.
The new system includes switching technology that will allow Hurst officers to communicate with agencies that still use analog systems, said Assistant Chief Steve Niekamp.
Moore said the federal government is encouraging public safety agencies to switch to digital-trunked radio systems so that everyone responding to an emergency can talk with all other responders.
He asked that City Manager Allan Weegar be authorized to enter a seven-year lease/purchase deal with Motorola.
The $1.8 million agreement includes an Astro Express P25 digital-trunked radio system that will replace the police system and the Fire Department's 800-megahertz analog system, Moore said. It also includes a 200-foot radio tower to replace the 80-foot tower at the city's service center.
Weegar said that funding is available through the Crime Control and Prevention District reserve funds and that the city can apply for grant funding.
He added that space on the tower could be leased to other users.
"We may have people who are interested in getting on our tower," Weegar said. "If they get on our tower, we'll go ahead and lease space to them. That can help offset some of the costs."
Weegar said this is perfect timing for Hurst to acquire the system, because Motorola has provided incentives for purchasing it. The lease agreement has a 3.51 percent interest rate and an 18-month deferred first payment, he added.
"Nothing will be due until 2012," he said.
Surrounding cities' systems will be outdated in 2016, requiring that they, too, convert to the digital system, Moore said.
He added that the digital system will overcome the "dead spots" in Hurst where officers have difficulty transmitting and receiving.
Council members also approved spending $55,725 to buy 85 Kimber pistols for police officers.
Moore said the department was approved for funding through federal grants as part of the economic stimulus
Read more: Hurst's police radio network to get long-overdue upgrade | Crime and Safety | News from ...
That's about to change.
City Council members have unanimously approved spending almost $2 million to upgrade emergency responders' communication equipment.
"The Police Department is in a 451 [megahertz], an old system," said Police Chief Steve Moore. "The Fire Department is in an 800, and surrounding police departments are in an 800, so we cannot communicate with them by radio."
Moore said the greatest issue is officer safety, such as armed standoffs when suspects are barricaded.
In such situations, "we have to call and have our dispatcher call their dispatchers to tell them whatever we want to tell them," Moore said.
The new system includes switching technology that will allow Hurst officers to communicate with agencies that still use analog systems, said Assistant Chief Steve Niekamp.
Moore said the federal government is encouraging public safety agencies to switch to digital-trunked radio systems so that everyone responding to an emergency can talk with all other responders.
He asked that City Manager Allan Weegar be authorized to enter a seven-year lease/purchase deal with Motorola.
The $1.8 million agreement includes an Astro Express P25 digital-trunked radio system that will replace the police system and the Fire Department's 800-megahertz analog system, Moore said. It also includes a 200-foot radio tower to replace the 80-foot tower at the city's service center.
Weegar said that funding is available through the Crime Control and Prevention District reserve funds and that the city can apply for grant funding.
He added that space on the tower could be leased to other users.
"We may have people who are interested in getting on our tower," Weegar said. "If they get on our tower, we'll go ahead and lease space to them. That can help offset some of the costs."
Weegar said this is perfect timing for Hurst to acquire the system, because Motorola has provided incentives for purchasing it. The lease agreement has a 3.51 percent interest rate and an 18-month deferred first payment, he added.
"Nothing will be due until 2012," he said.
Surrounding cities' systems will be outdated in 2016, requiring that they, too, convert to the digital system, Moore said.
He added that the digital system will overcome the "dead spots" in Hurst where officers have difficulty transmitting and receiving.
Council members also approved spending $55,725 to buy 85 Kimber pistols for police officers.
Moore said the department was approved for funding through federal grants as part of the economic stimulus
Read more: Hurst's police radio network to get long-overdue upgrade | Crime and Safety | News from ...
