[Scan-DC] Baltimore County upgrades emergency communications

[Alan Henney]

The Daily Record (Baltimore, MD)

February 16, 2012 Thursday

Baltimore County upgrades emergency communications

BYLINE: Shane Doyle

SECTION: NEWS

LENGTH: 463 words

Baltimore County announced Thursday the completion of a $76.1 million capital project to replace the county's 20-year-old public safety radio communications network and 911 operations center. 

"Just like new bulletproof vests and fire engines, this new communication network and 911 center are critical upgrades to our first responders' ability to protect the people of Baltimore County," County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz said in a written statement.

Among the improvements is the addition of 10 radio towers to the network, bringing the total to 18, as well as a new digital radio system to replace the previous analog one.

Kamenetz said at a press conference that the new technology means clearer communication between emergency response personnel, particularly in remote areas and inside buildings.

In addition, the director of the Office of Information Technology, Robert R. Stradling, said the new system is not as susceptible to catastrophic outages because, unlike the old system, one downed radio tower will not cause a domino effect that disrupts communication between other towers.

Another new feature is the addition of encrypted channels, where police can communicate securely to relay sensitive information about ongoing investigations or crimes in progress.

"In the old communications network; a person robs a bank, and the bank robber could literally listen to a police scan, and hear what steps the police were taking," Kamenetz said.

Baltimore County Chief of Police Col. James W. Johnson said before the press conference that people shouldn't be concerned about transparency with the new encrypted channels.

"Citizens with scanners will still be able to listen to the normal daily dispatches," Johnson said. "The encrypted channels would only be for sensitive information. "

Both the digital radio system and the 911 center went online Saturday, according to Stradling.

The new system also makes it possible for emergency personnel to communicate directly with public works and other jurisdictions, for better cooperation in emergency situations, although this capability won't be online until mid March, according to Stradling.

The new 911 center, which accounted for $18.5 million of the project's cost, is designed to take advantage of the new radio technology and is equipped with voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) phone lines, which will improve the sharing of information between the call center and first responders, according to a written statement released by the county.

The project was part of the county budget for the last seven years and was approved by a voter referendum.

Of the $76.1 million spent on the project, $70.9 million came from county funds, with the remaining $5.2 million coming from federal grants, according to the county's written statement.