They don`t have to have 2 radios on their belts.When I was a cop with MDPD back in 1989,I was in the Intracoastal Station.Back then,MDPD was in VHF High.Our station had radios able to communicate both in VHF and the new 800 Mhz system, they were testing them for implementation in the entire department.I do not recall exactly what radio model model we had.I knew they were Motorolas,and they were 800 Mhz rigs.Even so,we could communicate with the rest of the department who were on VHF high.
Pinecrest PD,have their own radio system independent of MDPD.They are on MDPD dispatch for their call outs,but they can switch back to VHF for their own car to car or car to station.