OHP/DPS

[K5MAR]

This came up awile back, but I don't remember seeing an answer, so I'll ask again. Anybody know what the white "blade"-type antennas are on some of the OHP units. I saw one in Stillwater last Saturday, apparently one of the troopers that came in to work the game. The unit was 673, and on the roof was a white radome. It was (guessing) about 8-10 inches long, 1-1 1/2 inches wide, maybe 5-6 inches tall at the front tapering to about 4 inches tall at the back. Also the trooper whowas driving it had a different type of jacket on than the usual OHP medium weight jacket. His was a leather jacket with the usual OHP shoulder patches.

And I saw an unusual state car in town today. It was a red Crown Vic and was pulling out of the strip mall where the license examiners are setup. The car had the conventional state license plate, on the door it said "State Of Oklahoma" and below that "Public Safety". Just in front of that was a small (roughly 6" dia) decal of the DPS logo. It had what appeared to be a Larsen lowband antenna on a trunk edge mount, and "N 183" on the right side of the rear window in about 2" high letters. Anybody know what this was?

Mark S.

 

[okla-lawman]

Ohp has satelight radio link for their laptops and that is what the antenna is for.

Dps has all sorts of cars other than ohp. They have some of there own investigator types, olets all sorts. Drive through ohp/dps/osbi complex
in OKC somteime.

 

[mshadwick]

I have seen the Sat antennas on some of the OHP sam units.

http://www.fcw.com/civic/articles/2000/0313/web-1cops-03-14-00.asp

http://www.iacptechnology.org/Library/OKHPSatelliteTest.htm

 

[K5MAR]

Ohp has satelight radio link for their laptops and that is what the antenna is for.

Dps has all sorts of cars other than ohp. They have some of there own investigator types, olets all sorts. Drive through ohp/dps/osbi complex
in OKC somteime.

What I thought was interesting (and what caught my eye) were the markings. Not the regular DPS markings, and the "Public Safety" instead of "Department of Public Safety" seemed a bit odd. Don't get down to the city very often, and when I do it's usually later in the day or the evening.

Thanks for the info on the antenna!

Mark S.

 

[K5MAR]

I have seen the Sat antennas on some of the OHP sam units.

http://www.fcw.com/civic/articles/2000/0313/web-1cops-03-14-00.asp

http://www.iacptechnology.org/Library/OKHPSatelliteTest.htm

Tnx for the links!

Mark S.

 

[mam1081]

I noticed a Federal vehicle (a Ford Expedition) here in OKC (at the Fed. Courthouse) with the little white dome-shaped antenna on top. I wonder who that belongs to....

 

[okla-lawman]

BIA runs satelite relays and they are little white domes.

 

[nd5y]

There was an article in either Mission Critical Communications or Mobile Radio Technology
a few months ago about this satellite radio system:
http://www.msvlp.com/solutions/dispatch_radio.cfm
It said there are several federal agencies, the Texas Forest Service
and other state agencies using it.

Click on the hardware link and see if any of those are the same antennas.

Tom

 

[Lil_mule]

Did anyone ever think it could be a DOT Officer that work's the Interstates . Here in AZ they have DPS , DOT but DOT pull's over OTR driver's and check's the rig out and so on . sometimes the car is marked and unmarked .

 

[fast2okc]

Trucks and OHP

I guess every state does it differently. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has a size and weights division (Sam Units) that carry portble scales and check large trucks.

However, the inspection of these rigs is the jurisdiction of the State Corportation Commission. I don't think they even have a talkgroup on the state system; they use cell phones for communication. They have a license for handhelds (453.0875MHz) but I've never heard them on there. The Corporation Commission Officers run the "chicken coops" or weigh statons along the interstates.

BTW, Mark if you're still wondering, I believe "Nora" units on the OHP system are the Drivers License Examiners.

--FAST 2

 

[ShawnCowden]

thats why i cant figure out why some states have highway patrol and some have state police.

in kentucky we have mve motor veh. enforcement aka DOT units for highway patrol and also state police which do both criminal and traffic laws but most states just have highway patrol i think but its just my opinion that all states should have both like kentucky. some counties in certain states need help via state police anyhow.[/b]

 

[K5MAR]

Thanks, F2.

Shawn, each state has the authority to determine their own areas of law enforcement. In Oklahoma, under the Dept. of Public Safety (DPS), the Okla. Highway Patrol is just that - "Highway" Patrol. Although the OHP has state-wide jurisdiction, law enforcement is handled by city and county agencies under normal circumstances. Smaller towns that can't afford full-time police are handled by the county sheriff.

In Oklahoma, criminal enforcement at the state level is handled by the Okla. (State) Bureau of Investigation, variously known as the OSBI or OBI. They handle multi-county or state-wide investigations, and do not normally concern themselves with local matters.

Obviously, these lines are not hard and fast, agencies support each other. But we normally handle law enforcement using the most local, responsible agency. City first, then county, and rarely, state.

An interesting development in the last couple of years. Where previously cities would patrol state and federal highways when they passed through their jurisdiction, some cities have started expanding their city limits to encompass nearby interstate highways for enforcement purposes, aka revenue enhancement. So now, for instance, the City of Edmond (north of Okla. City) is very proactive in enforcement along the 3 miles or so of I-35 that passes to the east of them. From the number of Edmond PD units I see patroling that stretch of I-35 (at least 3 during one trip through), either they have stripped the city of regular patrol enforcement, or they are making enough from speed enforcement to add extra units during these times! Can you say "No Tolerance"?

Mark S.

 

[fast2okc]

Edmond is on I-35

Mark--

You know who the Edmond Police Chief is, don't you :wink:

He knows what kind of revenue comes from the interstate highways. :lol:

--FAST 2

 

[K5MAR]

Re: Edmond is on I-35

Mark--

You know who the Edmond Police Chief is, don't you :wink:

He knows what kind of revenue comes from the interstate highways. :lol:

--FAST 2

Nope

 

[okla-lawman]

Thanks, F2.


In Oklahoma, criminal enforcement at the state level is handled by the Okla. (State) Bureau of Investigation, variously known as the OSBI or OBI. They handle multi-county or state-wide investigations, and do not normally concern themselves with local matters.

Not necessarily so. Osbi is not an agency of original jurisdiction. They CAN NOT initiate any investigation. They are required to be asked by that jurisdictions law enforcement agency ie the Da's office, police, or Sheriff.
Osbi has had it hands tied. That is why (plus budget) thatg they would like to combine Ohp, Obndd and Osbi into Okla State police. They have been trying for some 20 years now with no avail. Too much politics and Egos.

 

[K5MAR]

In Oklahoma, criminal enforcement at the state level is handled by the Okla. (State) Bureau of Investigation, variously known as the OSBI or OBI. They handle multi-county or state-wide investigations, and do not normally concern themselves with local matters.

Not necessarily so. Osbi is not an agency of original jurisdiction. They CAN NOT initiate any investigation. They are required to be asked by that jurisdictions law enforcement agency ie the Da's office, police, or Sheriff.
Osbi has had it hands tied. That is why (plus budget) thatg they would like to combine Ohp, Obndd and Osbi into Okla State police. They have been trying for some 20 years now with no avail. Too much politics and Egos.

First, did I say they initiated anything?

Second, combining all the agencies concentrates too much power into too few hands. Keeping them separate is good sense.

Mark S.

 

[okla-lawman]

Mark I was not trying to criticise but most people including cops do not know that Osbi can not investigate what ever they want. They are extremly limited.

As far as combining I think from an economic standpoint and intelligence stand point it would be a good deal. BUT ohp could not be in charge. Ohp
(oh how pretty to quote the cleet instructors) is trying to turn themselved into state police without changing the Constitution, etc. Apparently they
(according to cleet instructors) have been trying to bulldog the new police academy in Ada. Ohp is trying to turn it into boot camp.

 

[fast2okc]

Mark--

fast2okc wrote:
You know who the Edmond Police Chief is, don't you

He knows what kind of revenue comes from the interstate highways.

--FAST 2

Edmond's Chief of Police is Bob Ricks, former head of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Hmmmmmmm

--FAST 2

 

[K5MAR]

Mark--

fast2okc wrote:
You know who the Edmond Police Chief is, don't you

He knows what kind of revenue comes from the interstate highways.

--FAST 2

Edmond's Chief of Police is Bob Ricks, former head of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Hmmmmmmm

--FAST 2

Yeah, I remembered that after I got to work. Not enough caffeine! :lol:

To Okla-Lawman: Sorry, didn't mean to snap. I've always believed that the more local the level of law enforcement can be, the better the service. Those mega-agencies, such as Metro-Dade County in Florida, are so large and impersonal. When your law enforcement people are your neighbors, I think they care a little more. As a habit, I always wave to the police when I see them, and the reponse generally varies by the size of the agency. The larger the agency, the less likely I am to get a response such as a smile or wave back. Did get eyeballed pretty closely by a Okla. County deputy when driving through last week (if you saw my truck, you'd know why), but he returned my wave before heading on down the road. I've never gotten a response from a Ft. Worth or Dallas PD unit.

I'm not saying that the officers don't care, but it's like the difference between seeing on the news that a home in anther town burned down vs. the home across the street burning down. It's more personal.

Mark S.

 

[fireant]

Speaking of waving at police officers. I live in Yukon area now and the officers there for awhile were told not to wave at the people. Seems someone called in and said that they waved at a officer and he flipped them off. I don't believe it for one second however now they do wave so guess they got over that issue. I have noticed the smaller areas (ie. Bethany, Yukon, Mustang, EL Reno etc.) are more friendly than the officers in Norman, Edmond and OKC. I went into a 7-11 the other night in OKC three Okc officers where in the store. I spoke to them asked them how they were doing. They just stood there and gleemed at me and did not say a word. Then they wonder why people won't talk to them. I will only work for a department that treats the citizens the way they deserve to be treated if someone was to speak to me at least they could say hi.

fireant