As of Wednesday October 12th. at approx. 0830 the Sherman Police Department implimented APCO-25 Digital voice and Data Communications with the capibility of Partial Encryption. In addition, The Sherman Police have migrated to 7.5khz VHF Narrow band on the RF Spectrum.
The Grayson County Sheriffs Office is soon to follow in their footsteps. The Sherman Fire Department is Operating in Analog and Digital, Analog since Sherman Fire and EMS respond to calls outside of the city and assist various Volunteer Fire Agencies who do not have the monatary means to support APCO digital standards.
The cities of Van Alstyne, Whitewright, Denison and Gordonville plan to follow suit in the comming new year. However, Whitewright will remain mixed as the agency also accesses the Fannin Co sheriff repeater for Mutual Assistence with Trenton, Leonard and Savoy.
The only plans by the Sherman Police Department to actually use DES Encryption pretain to sensitive Traffic, Criminal Investigations and Narcotic or Tactical situations and operations. Patrol, for the most part, plan to remain open digital.
An Interesting note to this Saga is that about a year ago, a Plan was formed to experiment with Digital Communications in Cooke, Grayson and Fannin Counties. the plan was to construct a Digital Radio system simular to a Passport TRS for all Law Enforcement and Fire fighting agencies in the 3 counties as an elaborate Public Safety net. The County Comissioners For Fannin bowed out when the Price tag per individual Radio was revieled.
Since I am not personally tied to any Cooke Co. agencies I have no Idea of their Status, However it would appear Grayson County has vowed to commence the project. The Texas Department of Public safety also joins in the conquest, which might be tell-tail signs that Region-1 is preparing to impliment Digital standards too.
The Grayson Co. Sheriff maintain a Radio agreement with Love Co. (OK) and other Red River counties in Southern Oklahoma which migh suggest Southern Oklahoma could become Digital too, however this is purely speculation.
The Grayson County Sheriffs Office is soon to follow in their footsteps. The Sherman Fire Department is Operating in Analog and Digital, Analog since Sherman Fire and EMS respond to calls outside of the city and assist various Volunteer Fire Agencies who do not have the monatary means to support APCO digital standards.
The cities of Van Alstyne, Whitewright, Denison and Gordonville plan to follow suit in the comming new year. However, Whitewright will remain mixed as the agency also accesses the Fannin Co sheriff repeater for Mutual Assistence with Trenton, Leonard and Savoy.
The only plans by the Sherman Police Department to actually use DES Encryption pretain to sensitive Traffic, Criminal Investigations and Narcotic or Tactical situations and operations. Patrol, for the most part, plan to remain open digital.
An Interesting note to this Saga is that about a year ago, a Plan was formed to experiment with Digital Communications in Cooke, Grayson and Fannin Counties. the plan was to construct a Digital Radio system simular to a Passport TRS for all Law Enforcement and Fire fighting agencies in the 3 counties as an elaborate Public Safety net. The County Comissioners For Fannin bowed out when the Price tag per individual Radio was revieled.
Since I am not personally tied to any Cooke Co. agencies I have no Idea of their Status, However it would appear Grayson County has vowed to commence the project. The Texas Department of Public safety also joins in the conquest, which might be tell-tail signs that Region-1 is preparing to impliment Digital standards too.
The Grayson Co. Sheriff maintain a Radio agreement with Love Co. (OK) and other Red River counties in Southern Oklahoma which migh suggest Southern Oklahoma could become Digital too, however this is purely speculation.
