Mo. governor signs bill merging state patrols

[Starcom21]

Mo. governor signs bill merging state patrols

http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?...ernor signs bill merging state patrols&src=spOSAGE BEACH, Mo. • Missouri's Highway Patrol and Water Patrol have become one. Gov. Jay Nixon signed legislation Wednesday that makes the state Water Patrol a division of the Highway Patrol.
The governor said combining the two agencies will improve law enforcement coverage and is expected eventually to save the state about $3 million a year.
He said the number of patrol officers in either agency would not be reduced.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_409433af-34e1-5c13-b951-ddf6e3a9d5e3.html

 

[iamhere300]

Mo. governor signs bill merging state patrols

How to get a trooper really wound up? Ask him when he is getting his boat.....

 

[talkpair]

How to get a trooper really wound up? Ask him when he is getting his boat.....

winding up a state trooper = not a good idea

I wonder if dispatching for the water patrol will remain centralized in Jeff City, or be broken down into the various troops?

 

[flhays]

The Missouri Water Patrol was the premier water safety organization outside of the coastal regions and now I think it will deteriorate. The Highway Patrol Troopers will tell you they can do the same job as a Water Patrol Trooper, so why didn't they test as a Water Patrolman? My guess is you will be scheduled to work the water or the road during the week if you live near a lake/river. I'm sure they will eventually dispatched out of the Troop headquarters.

 

[kb0nhx]

As of right now, the communications will remain centralized. They are looking into installing low-band radios on all the boats and possibly abandoning the existing VHF repeater systems unfortunately. With all the Water Patrol sites being controlled by fractional T1 lines, it would be very easy to pipe those into each troop HQ, or even into the main HQ in Jefferson City at Troop F and allow dispatchers to utilize the existing network, but it appears that is not the way they will proceed.

 

[iamhere300]

I am sure they will abandon the existing VHF system. Why not? With the statewide system coming online, why keep the old?

 

[talkpair]

As of right now, the communications will remain centralized. They are looking into installing low-band radios on all the boats and possibly abandoning the existing VHF repeater systems unfortunately. With all the Water Patrol sites being controlled by fractional T1 lines, it would be very easy to pipe those into each troop HQ, or even into the main HQ in Jefferson City at Troop F and allow dispatchers to utilize the existing network, but it appears that is not the way they will proceed.

The water patrol does seem to have an excellent radio system. I do agree with the rerouting idea you mention.

They probably have to consider the costs of narrowbanding the current water patrol system versus moving them to highway patrol radio.

 

[iamhere300]

Putting them on low band - or at least giving them that capability - solves one of their long time issues with their system also.

While they do have great coverage in their primary area, much of the state they have little or no coverage - if there is not a reason for a lot of water patrol there, why bother?

But when they are called out for a recovery in many areas in for instance region G, with limited coverage, they end up on the cell phone.

Add to that, they are under a mandate to show a cost savings with the merger - right or wrong they are going to do that.

With the new system going in, it makes sense to take down their old system and migrate.

 

[wb0wao]

But won't they now be going onto the new trunked system with the MSP when it rolls out? I would think that they would just continue with the status quo until that time. It doesn't make any sense to change them over to low band and then within a year or so, change them over to P25? The only reason I can think of that they would possibly even do this, is to get them off their VHF Hi frequencies so they could be used for the statewide system.

Dennis

 

[iamhere300]

But won't they now be going onto the new trunked system with the MSP when it rolls out? I would think that they would just continue with the status quo until that time. It doesn't make any sense to change them over to low band and then within a year or so, change them over to P25? The only reason I can think of that they would possibly even do this, is to get them off their VHF Hi frequencies so they could be used for the statewide system.

Dennis

Exactly. The statewide system is going to take some time to roll out - and the VHF frequencies is problematic to find.

 

[talkpair]

I've already begun to notice some changes on the water patrol channel I monitor.

Jefferson City is now using callsign at the end of transmissions, similar to the style the Highway Patrol has always used.

Radio tech 1585 who does a lot of troop A & H work was doing some repairs on the water patrol's Paradise tower today.

It's possible that the HP's techs have always worked on WP's radio, but have just never heard them.

Have also heard a couple units that are outside of the WP's traditional 12xx badge numbers.

 

[talkpair]

Just heard my first transmission of a water patrol unit using low-band today.

"Water Patrol 1241" calling Lees Summit on A-Metro

Still hearing activity on the Paradise tower as well.

 

[N2JDS]

Ten new troopers coming to St. Louis-area roads
Ten new troopers coming to St. Louis-area roads | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO

 

[talkpair]

.....it would be very easy to pipe those into each troop HQ,

Sounds like they may be getting ready to change dispatching over from Jeff City to Lees Summit on the Paradise tower (Smithville Lake).

Overheard one of the water patrol officers ask about it this morning.

 

[Imperial]

Troop D Springfield is dispatching the Water Patrol on the Table Rock Tower in the Branson area now. Probably the rest of the Troop too.

 

[iamhere300]

All HIPO cars are undergoing refits with "reese" reciever hitches to be able to move boats easier.

Ok, maybe not...

 

[talkpair]

I haven't heard any activity (other than interference) on the Paradise (vhfhi) repeater in months now.

I don't know if it's a seasonal drop in people on the lakes, or they've completely moved to low band now.