Baltimore County Completes $76M in 911, Radio Upgrades
The county added 10 radio towers and revamped its 911 call center as part of a long-term capital project.
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It was nine years ago, almost to the day, that Baltimore County faced one of its biggest snowstorms ever.
Public safety crews had to get around town and county public works crews had to clear roads. The cleanup efforts, complicated by more than 2 feet of snow, were hampered further by an antiquated, unreliable radio system.
After six years of planning, including three years of construction, the county announced Thursday that work was complete on a $57.6 million overhaul of the county's public safety radio system and $18.5 million in upgrades to the county's 911 center in the Circuit Court building in Towson. County officials and others gathered in a small conference room at the 911 center to discuss and demonstrate the new technology.
The two projects were funded by $71 million in county money, plus $3.8 million in federal grants and $1.4 million in state funding.
Both projects arrived on schedule and on budget, said Rob Stradling, the county's director of information technology.
The radio project included moving the county's radio system from analog to digital transmissions, added encrypted channels and improved coverage in remote and rural areas of the county by adding 10 more radio towers to the eight present before.
Though coverage inside the Beltway, for example, was historically "pretty good," Stradling said, "Some of the rural areas had weak signals."
The result practically eliminates radio dead zones in Baltimore County, whether an officer or technician is in an underground garage, a forest or an office building.
Police Chief James Johnson said the digital system would bring "enhanced clarity and enhanced coverage" for the police and fire departments. He demonstrated the new system by contacting an officer on Ivy Mill Road in Reisterstown, a common trouble spot. Check out the video attached to this article to see how it works.
Encryption would only be used by police officers to protect sensitive tactical information, not general police activity. Before the new digital system came online, Kamenetz said, officers were literally broadcasting their locations to suspects.
"A person robs the bank, and the bank robber could literally listen to the police scanner and hear what steps police are taking to apprehend that bank robber," he said.
Most importantly, officials said, the new system works with the county Department of Public Works radio network, improving communication between agencies during severe weather, street festivals and other events.
Ed Adams, the county director of public works, said such a system would have been particularly helpful in 2003, when the county faced a record snowstorm and Tropical Storm Isabel. Public works crews used dump trucks to help evacuate neighborhoods like Bowleys Quarters. A standardized radio system would help public safety officials and officers perform services more efficiently in emergencies.
"When they need us, we're there for them," Adams said. "When we need their help, they're there for us."
The 911 center receives more than 2,000 calls per day. The renovations there added capacity to the center and made it possible to swap components or locations in cases of emergency. So if, for any reason, the 911 center in Towson were to go offline, a backup center could immediately be activated without any loss of service. Other jurisdictions, like Baltimore City, could use the backup as well.
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, who secured federal funds for the project in her role as chair of the the Senate Appropriations Submcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science said the upgrades "will make sure that the dedicated staff of Baltimore County's 911 Call Center have the technology and resources they need to support their work of saving lives every day."
DS
6:03 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Good - now there is no excuse to protect Perry Hall and surrounding areas
Gina
7:44 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I'm pretty sure it was more of the general public listening to the scanners then the criminals. It was nice to be able to turn on rollcall when the helicopter was flying overhead so you knew why since there is no other means to find out if it's just for a traffic accident or an armed robbery. You can still access all the other counties and city online, I seriously doubt this is going to increase their arrests not that the scanners aren't heard anymore. It just keeps the public from knowing whats going on around them.
Public Citizen
7:50 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
What was wrong with the old system? I think this was a waste of money. Other cities such as New York City do not want anything to do with systems such as Baltimore Counties system. I understand that at least one problem with this new system is the delay. Units on the street have a several second delay when speaking to the communication center. Talk about a safety issue.
Tyler Waldman
8:08 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I actually did ask Stradling about latency on the digital system. He told me it's only a fraction of a second. And, from what Chief Johnson said and demonstrated, it was more likely with the old system to maybe have to ask someone to repeat something.
Johnny Yuma
8:45 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
You all have no idea what you are talking about. This system was needed. There were so many "dead" spots in the county. If you were to key your mic, you would hear a familiar "bonk". That means no one can hear you. This system is so much clearer. It enables the police to talk to other jurisdictions. The different agencies can all talk on the same channel if needed. There is no delay Mr. Citizen. Not sure what you are talking about. In a nut shell, the County was behind the times with this system. The County is playing catch up, but they're headed in the right direction.
Chuck
9:01 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Classic dog chasing it's tail marketing stuff. I remember when these same benefits of "improved communications" were being touted with the change to the 800mhz radios years ago. Radio manufactures play both side of the fence- selling systems to politicians who think cops can't be heard, then licensening the tecnology to hear them to scanner makers. Then coming back to sell an "upgrade" , which is only as good as the next generation of scanners. http://forums.radioreference.com/maryland-radio-discussion-forum/219410-new-baltimore-county-p-25-system-21.html
Gina
9:11 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Chuck I read the forum, let us know if they come up with a channel like Roll Call so we can still here them. I am a member of our neighborhood COP and I like listening to the scanners when I'm bored or when we see the helicopters in the area or hear a lot of sirens. Our houses butt up to rt40 in Catonsville and there have been a lot of robberies over there. It was nice to know when they were looking for someone in our area since we don't have any other means to find out. I thought they updated AACo years ago and we can still access AAco scanners online. We can access Balt Co Fire & Rescue so I don't see what the big deal is about access 911 as well.
Momofmany
11:09 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
This was a needed upgrade to the original 1988 analog system which tremendously improved antiquated communications. This system was greatly needed to upgrade to the next level and to achieve federal compliance with what is known as the P-25 standard (the real reason for the upgrade) there will be some glitches that are easily addressed through training. Overall we see an enhancement and integration of communications. We can thank the politicians at all levels for enabling this to happen. Our public servants are only as good as the tools that we provide them. THANIKS to all who made this possible especially the real people behind the scenes who weren't recognized at yesterday's poitical event!
Tyler Waldman
11:16 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I was going to mention the P25 standard in the piece, but some of the technical stuff can be a bit dizzying. Stradling told me that most jurisdictions in the area have moved to that standard except Carroll County. But enough of the old analog system is still in place, and the new radios are backwards compatible.
Chuck
11:53 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Ah, but look who has their hands in APCO. http://www.apcocorporatepartners.org/
Harry Callahan
3:37 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Many is the time I flipped on my scanner to find out why the police were flying their helicopter around my neighborhood. Now that I can't hear anything on my scanner, I will keep my Taurus Judge on my hip and my 308 loaded for bear at my side. Anything suspicious on my property and I'll shoot first and ask questions later. I just hope that the person(s) unknown to me is not an officer on a stakeout. I could find out before on the air. Now, I'll let my guns make the inquiry for me.
John Flegler
6:44 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
Seriously people....this isnt beruit...Rollcall radio was taken down due to nobody paying for the guy to host the service that cost money and donations were far and few between im sure. The new system requires a digital scanner they cost $450 min...the old $95 analog scanner wont work anymore because its a digital scanner...i can hear the new system loud and clear...the new system does have encrypted channels to keep all you wyatt earp's out there at bay...Harry...u may wanna check the law out...deadly force on your property in the state of MD is a no no...MD is a duty to retreat state...if you can retreat you have to do so do i like it no...is it law...yes...you can thank the libs for that
Ed MacVaugh
8:29 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
John Flegler, You are not detailed enough in your comment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_self-defense_in_Maryland provides an accurate description of Maryland's self protection law. Castle doctrine applies in your home through case law rather than the Code.
Chuck
10:04 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
OK, Mr. Flegler, what digital scanner are you using ?