Timmins council is being asked to consider a $3.2-million upgrade in the city's communications and data network system.
The cost would be budgeted over 10 years.
The proposal is being put forward by the Timmins Police Service. However, the system would potentially benefit other city departments include firefighting and public works.
"The radio system we now have is outdated technology and needs to be replaced," said Chief Richard Laperriere.
He said there are some areas within the city where portable radios cut out or are unusable. Laperriere said this has been an ongoing concern from the standpoint of maintaining contact with officers and ensuring their safety at all times.
Since the police will be mandated at some point to upgrade their communications system, it made sense from a cost-perspective to look at making improvements on a city-wide basis, Laperriere said.
The enhanced communications system would be encrypted so that the public wouldn't be able to listen in on police radio dispatches through scanners.
Laperriere said this posed a problem in the past as lawbreakers armed with scanners have been alerted to the fact police are coming and are able to get away.
Timmins Police Insp. Paul Bonhomme, who provided the technical details to city council last night, said the police service is looking at a system that would provide crystal clear coverage beyond the city's borders from one end to the other.
The network would require setting up three strategically located towers. Having the tower network would also provide easy implementation of the wireless the surveillance camera system that is being proposed by police to provide security in the city's downtown.
The technology would also provide for automatic vehicle location, as well as provide a record of various aspects of a vehicle's operation.
The cost would be budgeted over 10 years.
The proposal is being put forward by the Timmins Police Service. However, the system would potentially benefit other city departments include firefighting and public works.
"The radio system we now have is outdated technology and needs to be replaced," said Chief Richard Laperriere.
He said there are some areas within the city where portable radios cut out or are unusable. Laperriere said this has been an ongoing concern from the standpoint of maintaining contact with officers and ensuring their safety at all times.
Since the police will be mandated at some point to upgrade their communications system, it made sense from a cost-perspective to look at making improvements on a city-wide basis, Laperriere said.
The enhanced communications system would be encrypted so that the public wouldn't be able to listen in on police radio dispatches through scanners.
Laperriere said this posed a problem in the past as lawbreakers armed with scanners have been alerted to the fact police are coming and are able to get away.
Timmins Police Insp. Paul Bonhomme, who provided the technical details to city council last night, said the police service is looking at a system that would provide crystal clear coverage beyond the city's borders from one end to the other.
The network would require setting up three strategically located towers. Having the tower network would also provide easy implementation of the wireless the surveillance camera system that is being proposed by police to provide security in the city's downtown.
The technology would also provide for automatic vehicle location, as well as provide a record of various aspects of a vehicle's operation.