NCJ Number
87022
Date Published
Unknown
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A study of the communications system of the police department in Newburgh, N.Y., focused on the operations of the mobile radio district composed of the department and three nearby police agencies.
Abstract
The mobile radio district has received communications equipment under a LEAA grant through the New York State Planning Agency. One of the major problems is the development of a plan for operating procedures to promote the maximum use of communications equipment with a minimum of interagency interference. Another concern is efficiency in view of current budget constraints, and particularly the ability to handle communications and record requests, walk-in complaints, and requests for information, with limited dispatching personnel and duty officers. A manual on standard operating procedures for the radio system should include guidelines on citizen access, command and control, interagency communications, information systems, and technical considerations. To improve dispatching efficiency, telephone equipment should be capable of placing a call on hold using a simple technique. Communications dispatchers also need training and information so they can disseminate information to responding officers as rapidly as possible. The physical arrangement of the dispatch center also needs changing to improve efficiency. In addition, the most efficient system of operation would be to assign personnel to communications as a permanent assignment. The mobile radio district should use APCO manuals as guides and should agree on the use of 10 signals by all agencies. Additional recommendations and a list of APCO publications are included.