Radio ga ga

City, schools linked up for crisis communication

ONWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE ften, the first sign of a sudden crisis is the immediate chaos.

Understandably, a lot of people panic in the midst of an unknown threat.

And in the middle of chaos and panic, what helps more than anything? Communication.

What did you expect us to say, a Glock?

Sure, if you happen to come face to face with an assailant, it’s hard to argue against some capability for self-defense. But everyone is hindered when communication suffers. It is exceedingly difficult to react calmly and smartly when there’s a dearth of information about what’s happening.

In The 9/11 Commission Report, communication failures were cited as a key factor that limited the response to the attacks on New York’s World Trade Center. National Review reported a few years ago that warnings about the impending collapse of the second tower saved many a police officer. But what about the firefighters? Many died because they never heard the warnings. Why? Radio systems for the fire department, police department and Port Authority Police were incompatible with each other.

It’s almost as predictable as the likelihood of another mass shooting, sadly, that emergency responders will experience trouble communicating vital information in response to a crisis.

Maybe not in Rogers. Officials with the Rogers School District recently reported the district will join city government on a radio system that will provide instant communication with first responders if some emergency arises within the school system. Through the statewide Arkansas Wireless Information System, each school will get radios through which school leaders can talk with each other or directly to police and fire department personnel.

“In any type of crisis, real-time information is one of the most valuable things responders to that situation can have,” said Charles Lee, assistant superintendent for general administration.

Voters can give themselves a pat on the back for providing this extra level of safety; the city’s $3.35 million radio system is funded by the extension of the one-cent sales tax approved in an August election. The school district has budgeted $350,000 to buy radios.

Rogers Police Chief Hayes Minor said the nation’s long list of schoolrelated shootings make the shared radio system a “positive step.” Fire Chief Tom Jenkins noted the benefits of strong communication on more routine calls, such as when a student needs assistance for a medical challenge.

The public rarely gets to see the inside workings necessary to ensure an effective emergency response. This sharing of a radio system provides a higher level of protection for the community and marks a great investment in public safety.