ShawnCowden
Member
Wonder what type of system they will get ???
County hires firm to study communication systems
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER - A new communications study has begun that could help prevent a tragedy like the death of Deputy Ethan Collins.
The Fairfield County Commission on June 20 unanimously agreed to hire L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Architects and Engineers, of Pennsylvania to do a complete review of the county's communication systems, including the radio units used by the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office.
"We've been working on trying to find a good firm for several months," said Fairfield County Chief Deputy Jerry Perrigo. "We would like to see the communication system in the county improved."
The death of Collins might have been prevented if gaps in the current radio system had not existed.
Lithopolis police Sgt. Wesley Barton got out of his patrol vehicle Jan. 4 to chase a juvenile who was threatening to kill himself and who reportedly had a razor.
Barton got into a struggle with the juvenile, and dispatchers called for other officers to help Barton.
Collins was one of the officers who answered the call. He was trying to reach Barton when he lost control of his patrol car on State Route 188 and the cruiser went into a ditch outside of Lancaster.
By the time of the accident, Barton had captured the juvenile. Barton tried to call dispatchers to tell them he had the person in custody.
The only problem was the dispatchers couldn't hear Barton. Barton was in an area of the county where radios often do not work.
Following Collins' death, Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen went to the county commissioners and asked to have a new study done on the communication coverage.
Mel Meloy, communications supervisor for the Sheriff's Office, said there are four areas in the county where radio communication is lost between deputies and dispatchers.
"In those areas, we can't transmit or receive the radio traffic," Meloy said.
But the scope of the study will look at every tower the county operates and each tower's coverage.
"They are going to look at different types of radio systems we could use and how best to prepare for not only next year, but five and ten years down into the future," Meloy said.
The study is going to cost $20,000 and should be completed by September.
Originally published July 2, 2006
County hires firm to study communication systems
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
cburnett@nncogannett.com
LANCASTER - A new communications study has begun that could help prevent a tragedy like the death of Deputy Ethan Collins.
The Fairfield County Commission on June 20 unanimously agreed to hire L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Architects and Engineers, of Pennsylvania to do a complete review of the county's communication systems, including the radio units used by the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office.
"We've been working on trying to find a good firm for several months," said Fairfield County Chief Deputy Jerry Perrigo. "We would like to see the communication system in the county improved."
The death of Collins might have been prevented if gaps in the current radio system had not existed.
Lithopolis police Sgt. Wesley Barton got out of his patrol vehicle Jan. 4 to chase a juvenile who was threatening to kill himself and who reportedly had a razor.
Barton got into a struggle with the juvenile, and dispatchers called for other officers to help Barton.
Collins was one of the officers who answered the call. He was trying to reach Barton when he lost control of his patrol car on State Route 188 and the cruiser went into a ditch outside of Lancaster.
By the time of the accident, Barton had captured the juvenile. Barton tried to call dispatchers to tell them he had the person in custody.
The only problem was the dispatchers couldn't hear Barton. Barton was in an area of the county where radios often do not work.
Following Collins' death, Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen went to the county commissioners and asked to have a new study done on the communication coverage.
Mel Meloy, communications supervisor for the Sheriff's Office, said there are four areas in the county where radio communication is lost between deputies and dispatchers.
"In those areas, we can't transmit or receive the radio traffic," Meloy said.
But the scope of the study will look at every tower the county operates and each tower's coverage.
"They are going to look at different types of radio systems we could use and how best to prepare for not only next year, but five and ten years down into the future," Meloy said.
The study is going to cost $20,000 and should be completed by September.
Originally published July 2, 2006