County distributes new mobile radios for police
DARBY BOROUGH » In an effort to address Delaware County’s aging emergency communications network, officials Tuesday unveiled new mobile radios for every police officer in the county.
The $3.5 million project includes nearly 2,500 Kenwood radios, with more than 1,200 radios going to every full- and part-time police officer in the county, said Timothy Boyce, director of Emergency Services, at a press conference held at the Darby police station.
Fire departments will receive 800 radios; 200 will go to EMS and the remainder to emergency management and special operation units.
The new radios feature a two-band system which addresses a situation called Troposphere Propagation, or “ducting,” which has prevented first responders in the past from properly communicating with the 911 Center. Police departments across the county reported problems with radio communications this past July, as well as in years past. Many of the issues have been tracked to television transmissions.
Boyce said they are adding additional channels that are outside this ducting zone. The alternating two channel feature will enable users to operate outside the band causing the interference. He said the new radios also feature such capabilities as a playback feature that a modern radio needs.
“Our goal is to make sure that the officers and firefighters have the best tool they can get as we move forward with a newer system,” Boyce said.
In addition to the new radios, the county purchased 1,000 mobile phones for each police car as a back-up. The network cellular phones have the ability to work with the county communications system. When an officer pushes the button on the phone, they directly connect to the radio network. The phones come with a grant of 10 years of free cell phone service, Boyce said.
Delaware County is among the first dispatch centers in the nation to merge radio and cellular together for public safety. The phones were authorized by county council and the cell phone service is being provide without costs through a 10-year grant agreement with Sprint/T-Mobile.
The CAT-S42 phones have a unique Push-To-Talk feature that allows a first responder to access our radio system via cellular service and securely receive public health event information which has become vital during the pandemic.
“It’s a back-up to the radio system. We recognize we have issues, but Delaware County Council is committed to making sure officers are safe,” Boyce said. “Our goal is to make sure that the officers and firefighters have the best tools they can get as we move forward with a newer system. We recognize an officer is a 24-7 resource. With the pandemic, with the events over the summer, we need to have constant communication. It’s a change. It’s an officer safety factor that now we’ll know exactly where that officer is and who is on the radio.”
Boyce said he expects all officers to have the new radios in hand within two months. The new channels should be finished in six months. They are also improving infrastructure on the communications system.
Boyce said historically municipalities have had to pay for portable radios but at a cost of $2,000 a unit, it was often out of their budgets. With the county stepping in to purchase the radios, all communities will be able to provide the proper tools for communication.
“These radios will be able to operate outside the band that they have been getting interference from. Television interference from the channels has been significant but there are also other features that a modern radio needs,” Boyce said.
The county is also in the midst of building a new radio system. The new radios will be integrated into the new system and used for emergency managers, hospitals, the health department and school safety, Boyce said. The entire overhaul of the county emergency communications network is expected to cost $50 to $70 million.
“These radios are very important as the upgrades move along with the new radio system. We’ve been suffering for years with radio problems,” said John Viola, Haverford police chief and president of the Delaware County Police Chiefs Association. “This is a very important step for officers in the field. We have to keep them safe and in constant communication with the
911 Center.”
“We’re working to improve service, safety and security with the radio system,” said Delco FOP Lodge
27 Second Vice President Chris Eiserman. “The police radio is an officer’s lifeline for help during an emergency situation. The current radio system is plagued with security and interference issues. We thank the Delaware County Council, the 911 center. The dispatchers out there do a fantastic job for us.”
“These radios are a huge asset to us. It’s a valuable tool every day for us to use - a huge asset to the department and the community,” said Joseph Gabe, Darby’s police chief.