‘LIFE-SAVING’ ADDITIONS
County to complete update of public safety radio system in 2022
Oakland County’s new public safety radio system will be fully functional by the end of 2022 following $61 million worth of repairs and upgrades.
OAKWIN, the county’s 911 radio system established in 2002, is used by virtually every community in the county, and some outside of the county, to ensure all emergency calls received by dispatch centers are relayed to the proper authorities. The system, which is run by the county on behalf of local police, fire, and EMS is utilizing 19-year-old equipment that’s worn out and past its lifecycle with many of the replacement parts being out of production.
The upgraded system will include new portable and in-vehicle radio consoles, which are of highest priority and key components of a 911 dispatch center, as well as repairs and upgrades to 31 towers, which are nearing completion. Over 3,500 portable radios and 2,000 mobile radios will be replaced across the county with most used by police departments, fire departments and local governments.
One of the most notable upgrades, that was not included in the initial plans, includes the addition of an emergency activation button to portable and in-vehicle radios, at a cost of $1.9 million, which will send an alert along with a GPS signal back to dispatch centers to immediately map their location. When activated, first responder locations will be displayed in all 19 county dispatch centers using GIS mapped technology.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the new radio system, which will be integrated into the Michigan Public Safety Communications System, will benefit the entire county. That integration will improve interoperability with the county’s neighboring counties and state agencies.
“This advanced network uses GPS satellite technology to locate first responders during an emergency,” he said. “Before, if an emergency button was actuated, it would not give us a precise location for that first responder, which cost us valuable time and perhaps even a life. With this upgrade, we can pinpoint the location which allows us to better serve the public while protecting our first responders.”
All of the new mobile and portable radios will be equipped with GPS capability and software to support this feature.
For the past four years, the county has been working toward overhauling the outdated system, which includes a nearly $50 million contract with Motorola Solutions to implement the $61 million in total system upgrades. The project will be paid off with a mixture of building authority bonds ($18.5 million), 911 surcharge revenue, and general fund dollars ($4.5 million).
Beginning summer 2022, and lasting for up six months, all police, fire, EMS and other users will be moved over into the new Motorola P25 radio system.
Oakland County Executive David Coulter said the emergency activation buttons are an important “live-saving”
feature.
“My administration and the Board of Commissioners decided it would be sensible to add this lifesaving feature now while we are in the early stages of installing the radio system,” he said.
Over the next 6-9 months, infrastructure upgrades to both the tower sites and dispatch centers will be completed, according to county officials. Beginning in May, and lasing for nine months, all new mobile and portable radios will be programmed.
This year, the county will also complete coverage testing and the installation of control station radios at all 114 Oakland County fire departments. In March 2022, mobile radio installations will begin with the GPS and other functionality, including emergency button activation, setup and ready when the system cutover begins during the summer.
The county maintains and operates the radio system mostly through two revenue sources, the largest of which includes the collection of a monthly 911 telephone surcharge billed to county residents, which is 42-cents per month. According to the county’s radio communications fund budget, the county is anticipating $8.9 million in 911 surcharge fee revenue during the current fiscal year.
Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh said the county’s new public safety radio system is going to “benefit immensely” public safety professionals across the county.
“The new GPS option adds a high level of safety and security for our first responders by being able to pinpoint their locations,” he said. “The modern digital audio logging solution permits each agency to retrieve radio traffic from a cutting-edge
recording system, in many cases replacing end of life equipment that currently exists.”
The county is also spending $1.36 million to purchase additional portable radios for non-first responders such as animal control officers, courts and corrections deputies, and assistant prosecutors.
Both the emergency activation button feature and portable radios for non-first responders are being funded using county general fund dollars, a $3.26 million appropriation that was approved last week by the board of commissioners.
David Woodward, chair of the board of commissioners, said upgrading the radio system is about making sure law enforcement have the best equipment available to protect themselves and the public.
“These purchases and upgrades work toward making all of our communities safer,” he said. “They’re worth every penny.”
Over the next 6-9 months, infrastructure upgrades to both the tower sites and dispatch centers will be completed, according to county officials. Beginning in May, and lasing for nine months, all new mobile and portable radios will be programmed.