NCJ Number
47822
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
POLICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS IN A SUBURB OF DALLAS, TEX., ARE ASSESSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE AND LONG-RANGE IMPROVEMENTS ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE CITY OF PLANO, LOCATED 18 MILES FROM DALLAS, HAS A POPULATION OF 26,000, COVERS AN AREA OF 17.6 SQUARE MILES, AND HAS A POLICE FORCE OF 87 SWORN OFFICERS AND 31 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. THE ASSESSMENT OF PLANO'S POLICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS ADDRESSES THE FOLLOWING: THE TYPE AND NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL RADIO FREQUENCIES NEEDED; CORRECT PLACEMENT OF TRANSMITTERS AND ANTENNAS TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM COVERAGE AND TO MAINTAIN EMERGENCY CONTROL; OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR SPECIFIC FREQUENCIES; COORDINATION OF FREQUENCIES TO AFFORD BEST USE OF EXISTING EQUIPMENT; AND APPRAISAL OF EXISTING EQUIPMENT. STUDY METHODS ARE DESCRIBED, AND FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED. MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS/REVISIONS ARE RECOMMENDED RELATIVE TO CAR STATUS DETERMINATION VIA DATA INPUT, INSTALLATION OF SATELLITE RECEIVERS, COMPUTER-ASSISTED DISPATCH, 911 NUMBER, AND CONSOLIDATION OF DISPATCH FUNCTIONS. DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE AND LONG-RANGE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM REVISIONS AND ADDITIONS ARE PRESENTED. EQUIPMENT PURCHASE SPECIFICATIONS ARE APPENDED. (LKM)