NCJ Number
199288
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 76,78,81
Date Published
February 2003
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article underscores the importance of emergency services communications and introduces a new technology that allows local, regional, and national emergency services to communicate with one another.
Abstract
The author begins by explaining that the tragedies that occurred on September 11, 2001, would have been lessened if emergency personnel were able to effectively communicate with one another. For example, a New York Fire Department chief had ordered an evacuation of the North Tower of the World Trade Center 56 minutes before it collapsed. However, no one within the North Tower was aware of the order. As a result, hundreds of people needlessly died. The same type of communications snafu occurred at the Pentagon as well. These communication glitches are not unusual. The need for a communications system that links all emergency service personnel is sorely needed. This system is now available in the form of Internet Protocol (IP). IP offers “true scalable, available, cost-effective interoperability” to public safety agencies. IP technology is different from traditional voice networks that are circuit switched. IP is based on the concept of packet switching where information is divided into packets with address labels that direct them to their destination. Network First is an IP technology that can be used with all radio types, frequencies, and modes. This means that even if different agencies have different types of radio equipment, they can still use IP technology to communicate with one another. Needless to say, this is an invaluable service given the threat of potential terrorist attacks.