Old fashioned interops OK/TX

[edwftx]

There was a little pursuit of a drunk and reckless driver that started in Burkburnett Tx on I 44 that went across the Red River. The Burkburnett units told thier dispatch to advise OHP and Cotton county dispatch that they were coming thier way.

In less than a minute an OHP George unit was on the Burkburnett frequency wanting to know were he was needed. Needless to say the guy was stopped/pitted less than 2 miles inside Oklahoma on Hwy 36 before he injured or killed someone.

All of this good work without a multi million dollar 800 mhz TRS system. Seems to me interoperability has to do more with different agencies working relationships than what any radio system can do.

 

[K5MAR]

There was a little pursuit of a drunk and reckless driver that started in Burkburnett Tx on I 44 that went across the Red River. The Burkburnett units told thier dispatch to advise OHP and Cotton county dispatch that they were coming thier way.

In less than a minute an OHP George unit was on the Burkburnett frequency wanting to know were he was needed. Needless to say the guy was stopped/pitted less than 2 miles inside Oklahoma on Hwy 36 before he injured or killed someone.

All of this good work without a multi million dollar 800 mhz TRS system. Seems to me interoperability has to do more with different agencies working relationships than what any radio system can do.

There you have it in a nutshell. I put your statement in bold to emphasize it. That's why I laugh whenever I read how the new 700 MHz radios will cure the problems such as those that occurred in Louisiana. If the mindset isn't there, all the new toys, I mean radios, in the world won't help. We used to have a fire chief here that was fiercely protective of "his" turf. So much so that he disconnected the fire radio from the PD's dispatch console. This nearly resulted in the loss of an ambulance one night because I couldn't speak directly to the ambulance to warn them of a hazard. We have all new department heads now, police chief, fire chief, sheriff and university police chief, and the level of cooperation is great!

Mark S.

 

[muddy mudskipper]

this problem would have been avoided if they just gave radios to the drunks.

= )

(of course, they'd probably complain about being monitored and lobby for a new ProVoice 800Mhz TRS)

 

[car2back]

....(of course, they'd probably complain about being monitored and lobby for a new ProVoice 800Mhz TRS)

:lol: :lol: lmao!

 

[WX5JCH]

Too bad that OHP officer had to PAY for that radio.

 

[CommShrek]

So? There are many angencies that don't furnish a lot of equipment. You'd be surprised the amount of emergency lighting, GPS units, firearms (yeah that's right, not all cops get their guns GIVEN to them) and other law enforcement related tools that officers have to PAY for.

The radio that officer had to pay for is a luxury and not an item that is required to do his job. Sure, it's an officer safety issue but so are most of the above examples.

 

[WX5JCH]

I'd gladly pay my tax dollars for police/fire equipment, that should come first IMHO

 

[dstew67]

I'd gladly pay my tax dollars for police/fire equipment, that should come first IMHO

I'm with you, skywatch. I would gladly pay the tax dollars so that officers avoid having to pay for extra equipment that they can actually use in their work.

Although I agree that this radio is not required to do his job, I have to say that there are so many things that we can say are not required which are needed to some degree, and frequently issued. A bullet-proof vest is not something that is required, but I wouldn't want to be without one. More than one frequency in a radio isn't a requirement, but certainly benefits citizens when an officer, firefighter or EMT can do their job better because they can talk to more than one party.

I personally think this extra radio falls into this realm. I'd hate for that pursuit to have continued on and killed a family in a collision, just because the trooper wasn't aware of it when he was, and was able to respond more quickly.

I do agree with your thinking Twobravo, that we should furnish more of these non-critical, but much-needed equipment.

 

[pills]

Mind you I am just a reserve deputy but I have to purchase all of my equipment with the exception of my OC spray.

 

[jalexand69]

All of this good work without a multi million dollar 800 mhz TRS system. Seems to me interoperability has to do more with different agencies working relationships than what any radio system can do.

I wish the general public and politicians understood your point better. We live in a society in which many think something "different" will always be "better."

Situations such as this make me understand why Jasper County Missouri refused to go trunked with Joplin. The 911 director, at the time, told me that protocol and cooperation were more important than the latest technology. I'm amazed that many public safety agencies will spend millons for lights, sirens, radios, new vehicles, and new squad/division formations while cutting back the number of street/responder personnel.

On the other hand, I can see some real potential for VHF and UHF trunking, especially for agencies like the Wildlife, DOT, etc., who must cover large areas. Unfortunately, many believe that we must open new frequencies....j c

 

[CommShrek]

Mind you I am just a reserve deputy but I have to purchase all of my equipment with the exception of my OC spray.

Yeah, but you volunteer to do that job. It's similar to the volunteer firefighters situation. I'm sure the higher ups will claim that they can't even provide all of the goodies to full time paid help let alone volunteers. However, as a volunteer firefighter, I can say that things have gotten better in recent years as far as equipment issues.

I still can't bring myself to be a volunteer cop. Something just doesn't sound quite right with that.

 

[dstew67]

What's the difference whether a person is volunteering or not? As far as I'm concerned, a volunteer should have access to the same equipment that a full-time person has, whether they're a cop or firefighter. In either case, they are performing the same function, which would require the same equipment and support. I can't imagine what would have happened over the past few months without all the volunteer firefighters, like yourself Twobravo. We would've been in a world of hurt, and I'm very thankfull for your service. I'm also just as thankfull for pills' service, and don't think he should have to fork out money from his own pocket to provide a volunteer service.

Now, there are certain things that could be shared among volunteers. It may be that he doesn't get certain things issued to him, but has access to them while he's on the job.

Anyway, thanks to both of you for the services you provide. I have not personally needed either of your services, but it's sure nice to know that you two are willing to give your time and efforts to help our community. That thanks doesn't get handed out enough, and this is the perfect opportunity to say so.

 

[CommShrek]

What's the difference whether a person is volunteering or not?

I don't think the difference is actually whether or not the person volunteers or not. I may have mis-spoken (mis-typed rather?) when I said that. I think as far as the need goes, the needs are different for a volunteer firefighter vs. volunteer policeman per se. The fact is, I don't know of one single law enforcement agency that is 100% volunteer. People that volunteer as reserve law enforcement do so to supplement the force that is already in place. If they didn't volunteer then the police would have to assign the paid cops to do more things. It's not like we wouldn't have any police.

HOWEVER, in my town, and in a lot of communites around Oklahoma, and the entire nation for that matter, the volunteer fire department is a 100% all volunteer force. If no one stepped up to the plate, there flat out wouldn't be any first responders to help the sick and injured when the rural EMS has a 20-30 minute ETA. There wouldn't be anyone to stop these grass fires, or other fires from just ravaging the country side either.

I just think it's a different need and to me, the volunteer firefighter is a much needed position to fill close to home. A lot of people forget to ask themselves one important question when they volunteer. Am I doing it to help others, or am I doing it to help myself?

I usually don't need the police to show up and handle my problems. The two times in my life I've called the police was more of a case of I felt I had to for liability reasons. It's not like they did anything. I'd be S.O.L. without the fire department though. I know it's a little O.T. and what not, and for that I apologize. Just trying to answer your question.

 

[pills]

Not ignoring. Just not responding. Don't agree. Unwilling to argue.

 

[CommShrek]

It was OT anyway, but, you can always send a PM. I do understand. And who knows, I might learn something.