Oakland County first responders will be safer on the job thanks to enhancements to the county’s new public safety radio system. The county will add an emergency activation button to their portable and in-vehicle radios which will send an alert along with a GPS signal back to their dispatch center which will immediately map their location.
“Our first responders are looking out for us, so we need to look out for them,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “This important safety feature was not a part of the initial radio system upgrade. My administration and the Board of Commissioners, however, decided it would be sensible to add this life-saving feature now while we are in the early stages of installing the radio system.”
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the communications upgrade will benefit the entire county.
“This advanced network uses GPS satellite technology to locate first responders during an emergency,” Bouchard 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.”
Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh echoed the sheriff.
“Public safety professionals in Oakland County are going to benefit immensely by this new state of the art communications system. The new GPS option adds a high level of safety and security for our first responders by being able to pinpoint their locations,” Unruh 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.”
Finally, the county is purchasing additional portable radios for non-first responders such as animal control officers, courts and corrections deputies, and assistant prosecutors. Together, the county will invest about $4.5 million from its general fund for these public safety radio system enhancements. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved the funds at its meeting last Thursday night.
“We are determined to make sure our public safety and emergency workers have the best equipment available for our protection and theirs," Board Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) said. "These purchases and upgrades work toward making all of our communities safer. They’re worth every penny.”
Oakland County’s new public safety radio system will replace its aging, 16-year-old radio system. The new Motorola P25 radio system will provide coverage for all law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies in the county and improve interoperability with Oakland County’s neighbors and state agencies. It will include over 5,400 radios, 31 towers, and 76 dispatch consoles at 19 dispatch centers.
Along with the $4.5 million from the general fund the Board of Commissioners approved last Thursday night, Oakland County will fund the new $61 million public safety radio system with an $18.5 million Oakland County Building Authority Bond from 2020. A 911 surcharge will cover the principal and interest. The radio system is expected to be in full operation sometime in 2022.
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