P25-compliant radios are digital systems that allow different users to able to talk across multiple channels or bands, so that police and fire rescue from different communities, states or other entities can talk to each other during an emergency.
The push to improve communications came after 9/11 higlighted the dangers and obstacles when departments can’t communicate effectively during a major event.
The systems must have the ability to be encrypted for security and be able to switch from conventional (analog) to digital communications across different systems, said Vincent J. Jones, director of Atlantic County’s Department of Public Safety.
Jones said Atlantic County is in the fourth year of a five year plan to comply with the federal edict.
“When it is all said and done, we will have total interoperability with surrounding counties, state and municipal jurisdictions.” Jones said.
The systems aren’t cheap and come as Atlantic County towns wrestle with budget expenses and keeping taxes down. It major industry — casino gaming —is in the midst of a contraction and Atlantic City’s share of the county tax burden continues to shrink, putting more of the bill on other municipalities.
Northfield recently bonded $300,000, and Ocean City about $328,000 for new radios, officials in those municipalities said.
Other towns, such as Hammonton, have yet to do so.
“That’s still in the future. We’re trying to hold off as long as we can,” said Mayor Steve DiDonato.
His town has faced increasing county property tax bills as the value of Atlantic City has gone down. At the same time, pollutants found in the town’s municipal water wells have caused the town to spend about $6.7 million on treatment, filtration and extension of the municipal water system in the last few years.
So now is not a great time to have to buy expensive new radios.
“Unfortunately because Atlantic City property values are declining, it has put a major impact on the rest of the county,” DiDonato has said. “I feel we have to hold our line as tight as we can locally, to keep it from affecting our residents as much.”
Jones said the county emergency management staff has updated its system, and it has performed well in the field.
“During the recent beach concerts we utilized it,” Jones said. “And we will for (Atlantic City’s) air show, and for Miss America. We’ll use it when the Pope visits during the World Meeting of Families.”
“During the concerts we were able to talk to Atlantic City police and fire, the U.S. Coast Guard, State Police — everybody,” Jones said.
With the county’s prior radio system, “I would have had to have had three radios. With this system I was able to carry one portable radio and we were all connected.”
Atlantic City police and city officials did not provide information about its upgrade process for this story.
Jones said the radio upgrade is happening nationally.
“With all the larger incidents going on and disasters we have had, it’s time,” said Jones. “The technology was there, but there was never a push for first responders to come up to this standard until now. The FCC has said either you upgrade or won’t be able to use your radios.”
He said New Jersey firefighters who have traveled to the West Coast to help fight fires in Washington state are able to talk to firefighters from all 50 states on their own upgraded radios.
The radios look much like conventional portable radios, he said.
The life expectancy of radio equipment in a public safety environment is five to seven years for portables and 10 years for mobile units, said Northfield police detective Sgt. Eric Dettinger. But he said Northfield has some radios that were purchased in 1998 and still in use today.
The requirement to upgrade radios is happening at the same time as a new county dispatch center is being built at Stockton University in Galloway Township. The estimated $22 million project is expected to open by early 2018.
MPost@pressofac.com
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