The Sheriff’s Office will be involved in several new or continued major initiatives in 2014. These initiatives include completion of the integration and reorganization of the Communications Center following the 2013 consolidation. This will involve completing the transition and conducting adjustments for unforeseen service issues.
Replacement of the County’s aging public safety radio system with a new simulcast system. This new system would reduce the tower footprint across the County, aid law enforcement, Fire, and EMS field responders (as well as the Communications Center) with better, more reliable, and timelier radio communications. The system will also eliminate the dangerous practice of manual changing of channels. It would also provide for an additional repeated channel, and move emergency medical services to their own channel. This will relieve frequency overcrowding during an emergency.
http://www.co.portage.wi.us/finance/2014 Proposed Budget/Public Safety.pdf
The 2014 capital budget includes a radio upgrade to a simulcast system that would include the Sheriff’s Office, County Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and paging channels. This project is intended to improve public safety, improve delivery of services to emergency responders, and reduce maintenance, operating, and lease/rental costs by eliminating unnecessary sites, while providing better coverage for the County. This project is anticipated to be financed with bonds or notes and is subject to final approval by the County Board.
http://www.co.portage.wi.us/finance/2014 Proposed Budget/Capital Projects .pdf
New field radio system approved, new 9-1-1 equipment has arrived for Portage County
Tuesday, November 05, 2013 2:51 a.m. CST by Larry Lee
One of the items approved by the Portage County Board of Supervisors Monday was a borrowing resolution to upgrade radios for police, sheriff’s department, and fire services. The seven million dollar project will replace aging police, fire, and ambulance radios with a simulcasting system that transmits messages on several towers at one time.
Chief Deputy Daniel Kontos says this change will be a huge improvement for public safety. “Field responders will be able to get to the dispatch center. They won’t have to guess which frequency to be on. Dispatchers, likewise, one button push will get their communication with the field responders. We can dispatch fire and EMS using one set of pages instead of the multiple pages that we have to do now. It will be a great improvement for us.”
New field radio system approved, new 9-1-1 equipment has arrived for Portage County - News - 95-5 WIFC Your #1 Hit Music Station - Wausau, WI
New Radio System in Store for Police, Fire
November 16, 2013 Editor
New System Would Upgrade, Sync Emergency Communications Throughout County
By Brandi Makuski
Law enforcement and emergency responders in Portage County will soon have a new communication system called Simulcast- a welcome update for police officers and sheriff’s deputies.
The system would overhaul communications for all police and emergency personnel across the county and include a series of transmitters, portable radios and computer equipment. It’s a lengthy process officials say won’t be complete until February 2015.
New Radio System in Store for Police, Fire | Stevens Point City-Times