MARION COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - For two months now, I-Team 8 has been sounding the alarm.
Marion County has a new emergency communications system that hampers public safety.
At issue, the new digital radio system in the 9-1-1 call center. Right now operators hear 9-1-1 callers through their headsets. But the voices of the responders, such as police officers and firefighters come through a speaker. It can be difficult to have clear communication.
On Thursday, a crucial vote by the MECA board brought relief to most police officers and firefighters.
"I've got a motion on the floor for 154 boxes, that's the motion," said Chairman Joe Wright.
Chairman Wright didn't vote, but the other 4 MECA board members did and voted to spend $274,000 on boxes that will put all audio through a dispatcher's headset. But the fix isn't coming to Beech Grove.
Mayor Wright believes in keeping the 911 call and the communication with fire and police separate. That would lead to a change in practice. One of his own firefighters took exception as did board member Scott Newman.
"Since our chairman who represents the excluded cities has taken the position they are not necessary here. If he changes his position and apologizes to the telecommunicators of Marion County that might be a different thing," said Scott Newman a member on the MECA board.
Keric Fitzgerald of the Beech Grove Fire Department said, "You're asking Mayor Wright to apologize MECA chairman or not doesn't change that fact and if we determine this is what is needed for safer system so why would we want to exclude the boxes for Beech Grove?
It's still not determined who will pay the extra cost to fix the system. The taxpayers or Motorola the manufacturer. Also unknown is what the board will look like after its August meeting.
Public safety director and board member Scott Newman said he's still planning to try to remove the chairman Joe Wright from the board because of the way he's failed to address this safety issue in a timely manner.
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8730023&nav=menu35_4
Marion County has a new emergency communications system that hampers public safety.
At issue, the new digital radio system in the 9-1-1 call center. Right now operators hear 9-1-1 callers through their headsets. But the voices of the responders, such as police officers and firefighters come through a speaker. It can be difficult to have clear communication.
On Thursday, a crucial vote by the MECA board brought relief to most police officers and firefighters.
"I've got a motion on the floor for 154 boxes, that's the motion," said Chairman Joe Wright.
Chairman Wright didn't vote, but the other 4 MECA board members did and voted to spend $274,000 on boxes that will put all audio through a dispatcher's headset. But the fix isn't coming to Beech Grove.
Mayor Wright believes in keeping the 911 call and the communication with fire and police separate. That would lead to a change in practice. One of his own firefighters took exception as did board member Scott Newman.
"Since our chairman who represents the excluded cities has taken the position they are not necessary here. If he changes his position and apologizes to the telecommunicators of Marion County that might be a different thing," said Scott Newman a member on the MECA board.
Keric Fitzgerald of the Beech Grove Fire Department said, "You're asking Mayor Wright to apologize MECA chairman or not doesn't change that fact and if we determine this is what is needed for safer system so why would we want to exclude the boxes for Beech Grove?
It's still not determined who will pay the extra cost to fix the system. The taxpayers or Motorola the manufacturer. Also unknown is what the board will look like after its August meeting.
Public safety director and board member Scott Newman said he's still planning to try to remove the chairman Joe Wright from the board because of the way he's failed to address this safety issue in a timely manner.
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8730023&nav=menu35_4
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